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IM-9602: (610x430mm) Original leaf from a 15^th century Gregorian chant. This musical sheet was executed by hand in manuscript calligraphy on animal parchment. 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.  The patch in the upper corner margin is original (over 500 years old).   Spain: Seville, c. 1460-90.

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. Once thought to be Pedro da Toledo, he is now believed to be Nicolás Gómez – active 1460-90.

The highly illuminated initial extend the length of the five-line stave and is in burnished gold with and interior floral motif on blue ground, resting on an outer rectangular red ground with a delicate floral motif; then extending into the margin in an elegant rinceaux-style border of vines adorned with gold bezants! One elegant knot-work calligraphic initial heightened with yellow.

This leaf continues the Feast of St. Agatha (patron saint of nurses). The calligraphic “G” begins the Glory Be: “Gloria...” (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever and ever Amen).