Beschreibung:

PSALTER, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [Southern Netherlands, Brussels?, late 13th century] 127x90mm, 185 leaves (lacking one leaf before f.113 and probably an added Beatus leaf before f.7), collation: 1 6 2 10 3-14 8 15 6 (-1) 16 6 17-23 8 24 6 , with catchwords. 17 lines, ruled in plummet, justification 78x62mm, written in dark brown ink in a gothic textura, rubrics in red, capitals touched in red, versal initials in alternating red and blue, 171 mostly 3-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on red and blue ground with white tracery (those on f.7 retouched), 9 HISTORIATED INITIALS on burnished gold ground, 7- or 8-line (some rubbed or flaked, and a few extensions cropped), 19th-century purple velvet over wooden boards (rebacked in purple morocco), brass cornerpieces and clasps, silk doublures and fly-leaves PROVENANCE: (1) Possibly made in Brussels, St.Gudila, the patron saint, appearing in the calendar in red on 8 January. (2) Henry Gough, his description dated 21 May 1874 is enclosed. (3) The Marquess of Bute, sold at Sotheby's 13 June 1983, lot 3 TEXT (f.1) Psalms, (f.158) Canticles and Litany, (f.178) Office of the Dead ILLUMINATION The subjects of the nine historiated initials are: folio 29v. King David seated, holding a book, pointing to his eyes (extension slightly cropped) folio 44v. King David standing, pointing at a scroll (extension slightly cropped) folio 58. A monk killed by a soldier with sword, perhaps Thomas Becket? (gold slightly flaked) folio 58v. A fool with club and shield (somewhat rubbed, extension cropped) folio 73. King David standing in water, his hands raised to God above folio 91. David playing the bells (slightly rubbed) folio 107v. Two monks singing folio 109v. David praying (face rubbed) folio 124. God in Majesty (very rubbed)