Page Contents
Brief Description of the Manuscript
Index of Selected Images from the Manuscript
Links to Manuscript Descriptions in Table Format
Links to Brief Descriptions & Indices to Selected Images
Site Map
MS 27 is a psalter of 70 leaves (including 4 flyleaves) and bound
by Joseph Zaehsdorf (1816-1886) of London. It has been assigned
a date of post-1320 and it is of English origin, possibly from
East Anglia.
The main text has a layout of 1 column of 34 lines of text per
page, except in the litany which has two-columns. The text itself
is in Latin, is written in Gothic bookhand, and consists of a
calendar, the psalms, prayers, and an incomplete litany.
The characteristic features of the major illuminations, which
are primarily historiated initials but for one, include the use
of gold, blue and red-orange colors; the five-lobed leaves in
the vines and daisy designwork; a checkered/diaper pattern background,
and border designs inhabited by realistic and fantastic animals,
drolleries, fruit, and/or flora. Additional initials in read and
blue with fine designs are found throughout the MS. King David
is the main figure in most of the historiated initials as he was
believed to have composed the psalms himself. The page with the
first historiated initial includes the only narrative scene (bottom
margin), depicting David's defeat over Goliath.
PLEASE NOTE: Downloading of images may be slow. Images average at 600 pixels wide and may be anywhere from 400-900+ kilobytes in size.
f.1, David & Goliath; Initial: David playing instrument
f.8, Initial: David pointing to eyes
f.13, Initial: David pointing to mouth
f.18, Initial: David reproving the Fool
f.22v, Initial: Jonah, & Christ as Salvator Mundi
f.28v, Initial: David hammering/ringing bells
f.40, Initial: Christ as Salvator Mundi
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