Original leaf from a richly illuminated manuscript Psalter/Prayer-book. 30 lines of Latin text. Written in unusual gothic cursive script on animal vellum. (For sister leaves see The Blackburn Collection of Manuscript Illuminations, The Cleveland Museum of Art). (165 x 135mm – 6 ½ x 5 3/8’’)
North Germany, (Hildesheim?) c. 1524.
Six three-line illuminated initials & twenty-five one-line initials in gold on blue, sepia, or red ground. Elaborate colorful panel borders with full gold ground strewn with diverse floral motifs.
This leaf continues the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Psalms 9 through part of 14) written in the 13th century by Saint Bonaventure.
The three-line illuminated “C” begins: “Confitebor….” (I will give thanks unto thee, O Lady, with my whole heart: and tell among the people thy praise and glory).
The three-line illuminated “I” begins: “In domina…” (In the Lady put I my trust: for the sweetness of the mercy of her name…).
The three-line illuminated “S” begins: “Salvum…” (Save me O mother of excellent delight: fountain of mercy and sweetness of piety…).
The three-line illuminated “U” begins: “Usquequo domina…” (How long wilt thou forget me O Lady: and not deliver me in the day of my trouble…).
The three-line illuminated “D”” begins: “Dixit…” (Our foolish adversary hath said in his heart: I will pursue and overtake: and my hand shall slay him…).
The second three-line illuminated “D” begins “Domina…” (Lady who shall dwell in the tabernacle of God? Or who shall rest with the ancients of the people…).
Dated 1524 in two places, the highly personalized parent manuscript bore the arms of Mansfeld, a prominent family from northern Germany, and it may have been executed for Albert, Count of Mansfeld (1480-1560). The fact that it contained a miniature of Saint Godehard, bishop of Hildesheim (d. 1038), suggests that it was produced at that location, an important bishopric and center of artistic activity at the time. Subsequently, the manuscript belonged to the Comte d'Aspremont-Lynden. It was sold at Sotheby's London as lot 100 on 23 June 1987, later appearing in the autumn 1997 catalog of Dr. Jorn Gunther (Hamburg, Germany), and was afterwards dispersed. Leaves have appeared in several notable collections.
Shipped unmatted
