IM-10506: (550 x 390mm 21 5/8 x 15 1/4'') Original manuscript leaf from a manuscript Antiphonal. This beautiful four-line stave musical sheet is on animal parchment, written in liturgical gothic script. Six lines of music and text. Italy (Bologna), c. 1470-80.
One exceptional illuminated initial ''C'' in red and green. The interior is a floral design in green, red, blue and sepia on a deep blue ground; the initial sets on a burnished gold ground and continues into the margin. One illuminated initial in deep blue with delicate red penwork. Numerous initials heightened with yellow.
This leaf continues the Feast of St. Cecilia (patron saint of poets, singers and musicians). The illuminated ''C'' begins: "Cantantibus..." (While the musicians played, Cecilia the virgin sang in her heart only to the Lord, saying: 'Lord, let my heart and body remain without stain, that I be not put to shame).
Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline. |