• Psalter, [ca. 1300].

Extent:
  • 1 v. (188 leaves) : parchment, ill.
Date:
  • [ca. 1300].
Language:
Author:
  • Catholic Church
Abstract:
  • Ms. Psalter. Part I (ff. 14-105v, 107-137v, 140-149v) written and illuminated ca. 1300, probably in southeast of England. Evidence for patronage and more precise localization removed, owing to the missing calendar and the replaced litany of ca. 1300. In Part II (ff. 106-106v, 138-139v, 150-188v) of early 15th century, some canticles rewritten and most of the litany of ca. 1300 replaced by ferial litanies of Sarum use. The added parts, "De laude psalmorum," the Office of the Dead, and the Commendation of the Soul, written and illuminated in early 15th century, in England.
Description:
  • Layout: Parchment; ff. 14-105v, 107-137v, 140-149v, (185 x 125) mm., single column of 21 lines, ruled 8 mm. apart; ff. 106-106v, 138-139v, (176 x 128) mm., single column of 21 lines, ruled 9 mm; ff. 150-160v, (176 x 128) mm., two columns of 21 lines, ruled 9 mm. apart.
  • Decoration: Part I, ca. 1300 (ff. 1-105v, 107-137v, 140-149v): 13 full-page miniatures (200 x 135 mm.) preceding Psalter, ff. 1r-13r. Gold backgrounds, with wide frames decorated in various patterns, including heraldic rampant lion, in silver, white, blue, orange, and pink. 10 historiated initials, six of 6 lines for psalms 1, 26, 38, 51, 52, and 68 (ff. 14r, 31v, 44r, 55r, 55v, 67v) and four of 5 lines for psalms 80, 97, 101, and 109 (ff. 82r, 95v, 97v, 109v), all with partial borders of foliate stems, trifoliate or cinquefoil leaves, closed daisies, and petaled roses, and occasionally populated with animals. 2-line decorated blue or pink initials with infillings of foliage in orange, blue, and gray or geometric patterns in blue and orange, all on gold grounds, and with pink or blue spandrels for regular psalms, Canticles, and Litany. Line-endings in rectangles of blue, pink, gold, and silver with white patterns and occasional hybrids in text throughout. Colors of sky blue, gray-blue, green, rose-pink, pale pink, orange, carmine red, and white; burnished gold backgrounds. 1-line pen-work initials in alternating gold with pink-mauve or blue penwork and blue with red penwork for versals. Part II, 15th century (ff. 138r-139v, 150r-188v): 5-line decorated initial D, bi-colored in pink and orange with blue foliate infilling, and three-quarter border with sprays of trumpet-like leaves in blue and pink, for Vespers psalm 114 of the Office of the Dead (f. 161r). 4-line champide initial M with sprigs of gold and green foliage for Lauds psalm 50 of the Office of the Dead (f. 178v). 3-line champide initial U with sprigs of gold and green foliage for Matins psalm 5 of the Office of the Dead (f. 165v). 2-line champide initials with sprigs of gold and green foliage for psalms, collects, and lessons. 1-line pen-work initials in alternating gold with lavender foliate penwork and blue with red foliate penwork for versals. Line-endings in gold and blue.
Binding note:
  • 18th-century, English mottled brown calf covers with stamped patterns of shells alongside spine and with double rulings in gold. Spine rebacked in darker brown calf, entitled "Psalter ca. 1300."
Provenance:
  • Head, hands, and feet of God of the Trinity of Mercy Seat erased, probably during the Reformation. Barne Robertes, signature of 16th century, on f. 1r. "LB" and pen-trial on f. 1r. Penned capitals of "ESD: BL" in bottom margin of the ruled page, f. 160v. Modern provenance unknown. Modern penciled note, "P10" in top margin of f. 1r. Robert Garrett (1875-1961), Class of 1897, of Baltimore, Maryland.
Source acquisition:
  • Gift of Robert Garrett, 1942.
Contributor:
  • Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Garrett MS. 35.
References:
  • De Ricci, v. 1, p. 370
  • Egbert, p. 126; pl. (f. 4)
  • Faye and Bond, p. 312 (no. 35)
  • Green, p. 190 (no. 72 [ff. 12v-13])
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