ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT GREGORIAN CHANT MUSIC LEAF, SEVILLE 1460, GOLD INITIAL

Description

SCARCE Medieval Illuminated Manuscript Choirbook Leaf
Master of the Cypresses, Spain c. 1460-80
Gregorian Chant: Psalm 44
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IM-8601:
Original leaf from a 15
th
century Gregorian chant. This large illuminated medieval musical sheet was executed by hand in manuscript calligraphy on animal parchment. (610 x 430mm – 23.5 x 16.75 inches))
The music and text (six lines written in rounded gothic script) are written in black ink, on a
five-line-stave
, with headings and rubrics in red.
It was scribed and illuminated in
Seville, Spain c. 1460-80.
This striking leaf is related to a series of Choirbooks attributed to the
Master of the Cypresses
who illuminated twenty Choirbooks preserved in the Cathedral of Seville - identified as
Nicolás Gómez –
active 1460-90.
One highly illuminated initial "C"
extends the length of the five-line stave and is in burnished gold with an interior floral motif on red or blue ground, resting on an outer rectangular blue or red ground with a delicate floral motif. The illumination
reaches into the margin in an elegant rinceaux-style border of vines adorned with gold bezants!
On the verso is an
elaborate knot-work initial "P"
that extends the length of the five-line-stave.
The illuminated “C”
begins a portion of
Psalm 44 (King James 45) 17-18
: “Constitues...” (You will make them princes over all the earth; they will remember your name, oh Lord...).
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.
This is not a reproduction – it is original about 525 years old, in nice condition as shown in the photographs. There is very minor staining and devotional wear to the leaf.
It comes with a certificate of authenticity.
We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.