Accession number
MS M.1247
Object title
Psalter (MS M.1247).
Created
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1485
Binding
Sixteenth-century blind stamped calf binding over wooden boards, sewn on four double thongs, paneled, stamped with repeated impressions of an arabesque tool and with a floral tool in the outer compartment. Binding worn, one clasp (strap renewed) of two (other catch remains). Spine repaired by Denis Gouey, 1988.
Credit line
Gift of Dr. Scott C. Schwartz on the occasion of the Morgan's Centennial, 2024.
Description
162 leaves, bound : vellum, paper, ill. ; 189 x 123 mm (125 x 73 mm)
Provenance
Benedictine Abbey of St-Amand, near Valenciennes, in south Flanders; Frater Jacobus Scohier, who added his name to the inside lower cover in 1593; passed to Frater Amandus Scohier in 1594; John Bowes Morrell (1873-1963); London, Sotheby's, 24 June 1986, lot 97; bought by Dr. Scott C. Schwartz prior to the auction by private treaty.
Notes
Ms. psalter; written and illuminated in Bruges, Belgium, ca. 1485.
Fifteenth-century Psalter with later sixteenth-century additions, including a calendar and miscellaneous prayers and canticles. Original Psalter ends with Psalm 108, later addition contains Psalms 109-150.
Decoration: six eight-line historiated initials, accompanied by Ghent-Bruges style panel borders with naturalistic flowers, fruit, birds, and insects painted on a liquid gold ground. Later sixteenth-century folios feature four large decorated initials done in red, blue, and yellow inks.
Of the 162 leaves, 117 are original. 14 leaves at the beginning (12 on vellum, 2 on paper) and 31 leaves at the end (all on paper) are mid-sixteenth-century additions.
List of illustrations: fol. 15r: Initial B, David killing Goliath (Beatus vir, Psalm 1); fol. 38r: Initial D, David pointing to his eyes (Dominus illuminatio mea, Psalm 26); fol. 52v: Initial D, David and the Devil (Dixi custodiam vias meas, Psalm 38); fol. 67r: Initial D, David and the fool (Dixit insipiens, Psalm 52); fol 96v: Initial E, David playing bells (Exultate Deo, Psalm 80); fol. 112r: Initial C, David conducting two priests singing at a lectern (Cantate Domino, Psalm 97).
Artist: Master of Edward IV.
The Master of Edward IV (active ca.1470-1500) was first identified by Friedrich Winkler (1888-1965) and is named for his illuminations in a two-volume Bible historiale produced for Edward IV in 1479 (London, British Library, Royal MS 18 D ix and Royal MS 18 D x).
Manuscripts in the Morgan collection attributed to the Master of Edward IV or his workshop: MSS G.5; M.171; M. 278; M.517; M. 894; and W.31. The illuminations in this manuscript are closely related to those in the Blackburn Hours (Blackburn, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Hart MS 20884).
Fifteenth-century Psalter with later sixteenth-century additions, including a calendar and miscellaneous prayers and canticles. Original Psalter ends with Psalm 108, later addition contains Psalms 109-150.
Decoration: six eight-line historiated initials, accompanied by Ghent-Bruges style panel borders with naturalistic flowers, fruit, birds, and insects painted on a liquid gold ground. Later sixteenth-century folios feature four large decorated initials done in red, blue, and yellow inks.
Of the 162 leaves, 117 are original. 14 leaves at the beginning (12 on vellum, 2 on paper) and 31 leaves at the end (all on paper) are mid-sixteenth-century additions.
List of illustrations: fol. 15r: Initial B, David killing Goliath (Beatus vir, Psalm 1); fol. 38r: Initial D, David pointing to his eyes (Dominus illuminatio mea, Psalm 26); fol. 52v: Initial D, David and the Devil (Dixi custodiam vias meas, Psalm 38); fol. 67r: Initial D, David and the fool (Dixit insipiens, Psalm 52); fol 96v: Initial E, David playing bells (Exultate Deo, Psalm 80); fol. 112r: Initial C, David conducting two priests singing at a lectern (Cantate Domino, Psalm 97).
Artist: Master of Edward IV.
The Master of Edward IV (active ca.1470-1500) was first identified by Friedrich Winkler (1888-1965) and is named for his illuminations in a two-volume Bible historiale produced for Edward IV in 1479 (London, British Library, Royal MS 18 D ix and Royal MS 18 D x).
Manuscripts in the Morgan collection attributed to the Master of Edward IV or his workshop: MSS G.5; M.171; M. 278; M.517; M. 894; and W.31. The illuminations in this manuscript are closely related to those in the Blackburn Hours (Blackburn, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Hart MS 20884).
Contents
Calendar; list of feasts and their rankings; miscellaneous prayers, beginning with a prayer to the Trinity; Psalter, on vellum, beginning on fol. 15r with Psalm 1, concludes with Psalm 108 on fol. 126v, followed by the Athanasian Creed (one missing leaf, the stub of which can be found between fols. 80 and 81, which likely had an historiated initial for Psalm 68); additional paper leaves (beginning fol. 132r) starting with Psalm 109 and concluding with selected canticles.
Script
Bâtarde
Language
Latin
Century
Catalog link
Classification
Department