13th Century Psalter Leaves with Fine Historiated Initials Painted by Important Purveyors of the Parisian Gothic Style

FROM A PSALTER-HOURS IN LATIN.

MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAVES, OFFERED INDIVIDUALLY, EACH WITH AN HISTORIATED INITIAL.

(Southern Netherlands: ca. 1280). 110 x 83 mm. (4 3/8 x 3 1/4"). Single column, 19 lines, in a gothic hand.

Rubrics in red, simple line fillers in red or blue, each leaf with multiple one-line initials in red or blue, one leaf also with three two-line gilt initials on blue and pink ground, and with bar border extensions in gold, blue, and pink, EACH LEAF WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL measuring seven to eight lines long (27-30 mm.), the initial in pink and the figures painted on a gilt ground, all this on a blue ground framed in gilt, with spiky pink and blue marginal extensions studded with gilt bezants, one of the leaves with a small hybrid creature with a human face incorporated into the extension. One leaf with early marginal notation; each leaf with a small leather tab (marking major text) on fore edge. One leaf with tip of marginal extension just grazed, the other with vellum vaguely soiled and thinned in one spot (resulting in tiny hole), but attractive leaves in very pleasing condition overall.

Featuring large historiated initials with some unusual iconography, these leaves come from a charming Psalter-Hours attributed to the Morgan 183 Group. Active in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, and so-named for a highly decorative manuscript once owned by J. Pierpont Morgan, the artists of this group are considered important purveyors of the gothic style from Paris into Liege and the Southern Netherlands. Our parent manuscript was probably executed in Brabant or Hainault, based on the presence of certain saints associated with these cities that appear in the Litany (for example, Sts. Waldetrudis of Mons and Amalberga of Maubeuge). Clues from other extant leaves containing additions and alterations to the text suggest that it was initially made for non-monastic use, but later may have been adapted for a Benedictine community. The text of the present leaves come from the so-called "Seven Penitential Psalms," which are traditionally credited to King David and associated with his lamentations and atonement. The beginning of each Psalm is punctuated by a large historiated initial which marks the opening and provides a visual narrative to aid contemplation. The subjects include: (a) "Noli me tangere" for Psalm 6 ("Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me"). A full-length Christ in blue robes appears before a kneeling Mary Magdalene after his Resurrection. Between them is a tree with a bulbous red growth at the top, acting as a symbolic divider between the earthly and spiritual realms. (b) David fleeing Saul for Psalm 38 ("Dixi custodiam vias meas"). This initial depicts David wearing a simple hat and tunic (as opposed to a crown and robes), as he escapes King Saul's murderous jealousy. He balances a staff holding a bundle of belongings on one shoulder (see Morgan MS M.183, fol. 54v for a similar depiction), as he is confronted by the disembodied head of God on the right. These leaves are excellent examples of the French high gothic style outside of Paris, and offer multiple avenues for further research and comparison. (ST20846E)

Price: $12,500.00