National Library of Sweden, A 231
Psalter (Gallican)
Italy, Naples, 15th century
parchment
iii, 180, i' leaves
245 × 165 mm
Latin
Psalms 1-150. The following psalms are give emphasis by an illumination and/or a rubric in gold: 1, 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97, 109, 121, 126, 137, 143. The rubric to several of the psalms also contain information about which liturgical hour the psalm belongs to, e.g. Psalm 121 on f. 146v: ‘feria tertia Ad Vesperas’.
f. 42v: blank.
f. 168r: Canticle of Isaias (Isa. 12);
f. 168v: Canticle of Ezechias (Isa. 38:10-20);
f. 169v: Canticle of Anna (1 Kings 2:1-10);
f. 170v: Canticle of Moses (Exod. 15:1-19);
f. 172r: Canticle of Habacuc (Hab. 3:2-19);
f. 173v: Canticle of Moses (Deut. 32:1;
f. 177r: Canticle of the Three Children (Dan. 3:57-88);
f. 178r: Canticle of Zachary / Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79);
f. 179r: Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). f. 180: ruled, but no text.
Secundo folio
Quare fremuerunt gentesSupport
Foliation
Collation
Condition
Layout
Script
Textblock
Hand 1
Humanist minuscule.Additions
Binding/Endleaves
Decorations
Textblock
Main text in black ink, rubrics in red or gold, capitals in blue, red or gold with flourishing in contrasting colours.
ff. 1r, 26v, 43r, 58v, 74r, 110v, 128v, 146v, 149r, 151v, 156r, 162r. The manuscript contains a series of twelve illuminations. All, except for the last, feature David in different poses and with different backgrounds. The last one portrays David and Goliath. The illuminations occupy half to three-quarters of the text block. They have a double frame, an outer in ink and an inner in gold. They feature a full colour palate with a heavy use of blue, purple, and gold, which is mirrored in the initals. The opening page also contains a full frame made up of geometric, elaborate floral, and architectonic shapes. The frame is inhabited by five putti and at the bottom a coat of arms, which consists of a lion on a red shield.
(ff. 1r–162r): The major champ initials are paired with the illuminations. They are made of gold, extend over 2-4 lines, and are placed on a square background of blue and purple, usually with green for the counter space. The background is eloborated with flourishing or vegtative shapes in white and yellow. The major initials are always followed by the first word/-s capitalised in alternating gold and blue letters with flourishing in red and purple. (ff. 2r–179r): The psalms not introduced by major initals and the canticles feature a smaller, but otherwise similar champ initial over 2 lines.
Binding
Modern binding. Green velvet over wooden boards. Spine, stamped in gold: ‘A 231’.
Origin
Italy, Naples, 15th century . The origin and dating is based on art historical criteria, see Samek (1966), no. 64.
Provenance
Early provenance unknown. Earlier librarians have speculated about the original owner based on the coat of arms on f. 1r, and suggest the families de Rossi in Verona, Baldovinetti in Florence, or Leonardi in Milan. The manuscript has been in Sweden since at least the 18th century when it seems to have belonged to a certain ‘sekreterare Witte ’(perhaps Carl Ulrik Witte, registered in the National Archives as secretary during this period).
Acquisition
Purchased from Witte by the Royal Library in 1759.
- Gyllene böcker, p. 91, no. 202.
- Samek (1966), no. 64.
- Hammarsköld (1811), pp. 173–174.
- Illuminated manuscripts (1963), p. 15.
