Psalter (Psalterium) [leaf from Ege medieval manuscripts]
Date
1375
Date approximate?
yes
Creator
Ege, Otto F.
Subject headings
Manuscripts, Medieval -- Specimens;Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Specimens;Illumination of books and manuscripts;Manuscripts, Medieval
Place
Greensboro (N.C.)
Description
The Psalter with its one hundred and fifty psalms is the best collection of religious lyrics which the world possesses. It is no wonder, therefore, that it forms an important part of so many medieval manuscripts. The Psalms are found not only in manuscripts of the Bible, but also in Missals, Breviaries, and Books of Hours; and, as they had to be memorized by the priests, they were also transcribed separately. In the earlier periods there was generally a harmonious unity between the spirit of the ornament and the character of the writing. This unity is exemplified in this leaf. The three-lobed, gracefully drawn, symmetrical fronds of leaves in the ornament are usually accepted without question as representing the ivy plant. In the Middle Ages many magical and medicinal qualities were attributed to this plant. Unfortunately, fire and water, mice and men have in the course of the centuries often left their damaging marks on manuscript leaves. Some pages of this manuscript book show the effect of having been exposed to dampness.
France; Late 14th Century. Latin Text; Gothic Script.
Type
Text
Original format
manuscripts
Original publisher
[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]
Language
la
Contributing institution
Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries
Source collection
Fifty original leaves from medieval manuscripts: Western Europe XII-XVI century Ege Descriptions
NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES. This item has been determined to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. The user is responsible for determining actual copyright status for any reuse of the material.
Object ID
Z6605.L3 E44_25
Digital master format
Image/tiff
Digital publisher
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304
