Leaf from a Psalter with Full Border with Medallions (Annunciation, SS. Jerome, Clare, Sebastian and Bernardino) and Historiated Initial (E): Virgin and Child
1475
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
This leaf is richly decorated with an elaborate border featuring multicolored acanthus leaves. A letter <em>E</em> that has been decorated, or historiated, may be seen in the top left corner with the Madonna and Child. It introduces the text for Psalm 67: <em>Exurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus</em> (Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered). Medallions along the right border include Saints Jerome, Clare, Sebastian, and Bernardino, and a medallion in the lower border depicts the Annunciation.
The leaf derives from a choir psalter that contained all 150 biblical psalms and typically appeared in small volumes for personal use. In large monastic communities, the psalms were read weekly as part of the daily office. Choir psalters were therefore large-format books for communal prayer.
- Title: Leaf from a Psalter with Full Border with Medallions (Annunciation, SS. Jerome, Clare, Sebastian and Bernardino) and Historiated Initial (E): Virgin and Child
- Date Created: 1475
- Physical Dimensions: Sheet: 57 x 39 cm (22 7/16 x 15 3/8 in.)
- Provenance: Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh
- Type: Manuscript
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1953.642
- Medium: ink, tempera, and gold on parchment
- Inscriptions: (Front:) Exurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus Sicut deficit fumus deficiant sicut fluit cera a facie ignis sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei Et iusti epulentur exultent in conspectu Dei delectentur in Laetitia Cantate Deo psalmum dicite nomini eius iter facite ei qui ascendit super occasum Dominus nomen illi et exultate in conspectu (Back:) eius turbabuntur a facie eius Patris orfanorum et iudicis viduarum Deus in loco sancto suo Deus inhabitare facit unius moris in domo qui educit vinctos in fortitudine similiter eos qui exasperant qui habitant in sepulchris Deus cum egredereris in conspectu populi tui cum pertransieris in deserto Terra mota est etenim caeli distillaverunt a facie Dei Sinai a facie Dei Israel Pluviam voluntariam segregabis
- Fun Fact: Saint Bernardino, seen in the lower right, was a popular and much-venerated preacher from Siena.
- Department: Medieval Art
- Culture: Italy, Umbria or Tuscany, 15th century
- Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
- Collection: MED - Manuscript Illuminations
- Accession Number: 1953.642
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
