Original leaf from an Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. The manuscript, Latin text and music (five lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand nearly 400 years ago!!! (640 x 460mm – 25.25 x 18’’)
Spain, c. 1600.
One large illuminated initial in blue with an internal decoration of a colorful bird in flight holding a branch in his beak with the entire initial surrounded by a golden bar; One large illuminated initial in red surrounded by additional decoration in red, blue and pink. The text and music is surrounded by a yellow and red bar.
The illuminated “C” begins the celebration of the Hour of Lauds for Pentecost with Acts 2:1: “Cum complerentur…” (And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place, alleluia).
The illuminated “S” begins: “Spiritus Domini…” (The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia).
Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline.
As is usual with Medieval and Renaissance parchment, the hair side of the leaf is darker than the flesh side, but may take ink somewhat better. The differences in tone caused scribes to arrange their quires so that the hair side of one sheet faced the hair side of the next, and the flesh side faced the flesh side.
Shipped unmatted
