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Details
PSALTER, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Cologne, early 14th century]
A pocket Psalter produced in Cologne at the beginning of the 14th century, with a fine Beatus initial in the style of Johannes von Valkenburg.
103 x 75mm. 270 leaves, lacking final text leaf, prickings often visible, ruled space: 73 x 47mm, 17 lines, 2-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork flourishing throughout, 20 3- to 6-line illuminated initials, one large illuminated Beatus initial opening the Psalms, later marginal additions throughout, chiefly chants added in a later 14th-century script with Hufnagelschrift neumes (margins cropped, occasional flaking of the pigment and gold of the initials, thumbing). 16th-century blindstamped calf over wooden boards (lacking clasps, worn at joints).
Provenance: (1) The feasts in the calendar suggest that the Psalter was made for a religious house in Cologne or its diocese: specifically, Sts Pantaleon (28 July), Gereon (10 October) and Cunibert (12 November), with the feast for the 11,000 Virgins (21 October) in red. (2) Margarita Geissin; ownership inscription in a 17th-century German hand, noting that the manuscript was given to her by ‘Jungfer girdffries sinivin’ on f.268. (3) Anna Elisabet von Hahfelt; multiple ownership inscriptions in a 17th-century German hand (ff.250v, 255v, 256v, 261v, 264v, 265v). (4) Leander van Ess (1772-1847; theologian, former monk of Marienmünster in Paderborn); his ownership inscription on f.1. Van Ess filled his library with manuscripts from suppressed religious houses, acquiring many from the Rhineland and Cologne in particular. Bought with the van Ess library in 1824 by – (5) Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872); his manuscript number 494. Bought at his sale, Sotheby’s, 23 May 1913, lot 1019 by – (6) Sidney Young, F.S.A.; his sale, Sotheby’s, 20 July 1921, lot 929 (bought by ‘Tyler’). (7) Robert N. Green-Armytage (d.1966; English lawyer); his booklabel, inner upper cover. (8) Sotheby’s, 8 July 1957, lot 70. (9) Sotheby’s, 1 December 1998, lot 74.
Contents: Calendar, ff.1-13; Psalter, ff.14-222; Athanasian Creed and Litany, ff.222v-232; Office of the Dead, ff.232v-248v; Passion sequences and prayers, ff.248-270 (prayers on ff.268v-270 added in a later hand).
Illumination: The fine Beatus initial opening the Psalms depicts David playing his harp; its elegant style is close to that of the Franciscan friar and illuminator Johannes von Valkenburg, active in Cologne and known for two graduals completed in 1299.
A pocket Psalter produced in Cologne at the beginning of the 14th century, with a fine Beatus initial in the style of Johannes von Valkenburg.
103 x 75mm. 270 leaves, lacking final text leaf, prickings often visible, ruled space: 73 x 47mm, 17 lines, 2-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork flourishing throughout, 20 3- to 6-line illuminated initials, one large illuminated Beatus initial opening the Psalms, later marginal additions throughout, chiefly chants added in a later 14th-century script with Hufnagelschrift neumes (margins cropped, occasional flaking of the pigment and gold of the initials, thumbing). 16th-century blindstamped calf over wooden boards (lacking clasps, worn at joints).
Provenance: (1) The feasts in the calendar suggest that the Psalter was made for a religious house in Cologne or its diocese: specifically, Sts Pantaleon (28 July), Gereon (10 October) and Cunibert (12 November), with the feast for the 11,000 Virgins (21 October) in red. (2) Margarita Geissin; ownership inscription in a 17th-century German hand, noting that the manuscript was given to her by ‘Jungfer girdffries sinivin’ on f.268. (3) Anna Elisabet von Hahfelt; multiple ownership inscriptions in a 17th-century German hand (ff.250v, 255v, 256v, 261v, 264v, 265v). (4) Leander van Ess (1772-1847; theologian, former monk of Marienmünster in Paderborn); his ownership inscription on f.1. Van Ess filled his library with manuscripts from suppressed religious houses, acquiring many from the Rhineland and Cologne in particular. Bought with the van Ess library in 1824 by – (5) Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872); his manuscript number 494. Bought at his sale, Sotheby’s, 23 May 1913, lot 1019 by – (6) Sidney Young, F.S.A.; his sale, Sotheby’s, 20 July 1921, lot 929 (bought by ‘Tyler’). (7) Robert N. Green-Armytage (d.1966; English lawyer); his booklabel, inner upper cover. (8) Sotheby’s, 8 July 1957, lot 70. (9) Sotheby’s, 1 December 1998, lot 74.
Contents: Calendar, ff.1-13; Psalter, ff.14-222; Athanasian Creed and Litany, ff.222v-232; Office of the Dead, ff.232v-248v; Passion sequences and prayers, ff.248-270 (prayers on ff.268v-270 added in a later hand).
Illumination: The fine Beatus initial opening the Psalms depicts David playing his harp; its elegant style is close to that of the Franciscan friar and illuminator Johannes von Valkenburg, active in Cologne and known for two graduals completed in 1299.
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