Leaf from a psalter or book of hours (Psalm 26)
English; French
Description
Subject Matter:
This manuscript page, which contains a portion of Psalm 26, comes from either a psalter, a book containing only the biblical psalms, or a book of hours, a type of personal devotional manuscript that enjoyed widespread popularity from the thirteenth through fifteenth centuries and contained sets of daily prayers that often included psalms. The delicate and understated decoration of this page structures the text by emphasizing the beginning and end of each verse, while also creating a sense of rhythm and visual balance.
Physical Description:
This manuscript leaf contains a single column of text in Latin surrounded by generous margins on three sides. Pen-flourished initials elaborated with delicate penwork, colored red and blue alternating with gold and purple, mark the beginning of each verse along the left edge of the text column. Five line-fillers, long linear elements colored blue and gold, complete the closing line of each verse and preserve the regular shape of the text block.
Usage Rights:
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