Medieval Psalters
Medieval Psalters:
Medieval Psalters were named because they contained the Psalms (religious songs or chants), a religious calendar and other religious articles (devotional and liturgical) pertaining to everyday usage. Psalters were often lavishly illustrated in brilliant color and were personalized for the person who sponsored their creation.
There are many types of Psalters – and they were not just used by Christians.
Examples of Psalters.
The Theodore Psalter - A Hebrew Psalter, written by one Theodore, a Scribe from the Stoudios Monastery. The Monastery itself was founded near Constantinople in 454AD under St.Basil. This Psalter was given to Abbot Michael as a gift from Theodore.
Website: - http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~slavman/hypertexts/Theodorepsalter.htm
The Luttrell Psalter – This was the combined work of a number of artists and calligraphers. It was commissioned and owned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell of Lincolnshire (1345). The Psalter depicts life and social conditions in medieval times. It also includes images of Sir Geoffrey and his family.
The Macclesfield Psalter – This forgotten illuminated manuscript was written in Latin and dates from around 1330. It is said that it was produced in East Anglia. Although the patron who commissioned the work is unknown, it was presumed to have been John de Warenne, 8th Earl of Surrey, who was notable for the commission of the Gorleston Psalter.
The Macclesfield Psalter came to prominence when it was put up for auction, and the winning bid was put in by the Getty Museum – a ban on its export as a national treasure was imposed. The Pages can be used via the Photo Gallery Link.
Website: - http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/gallery/macclesfield/
Medieval Psalter – This 14th – 15th Century Psalter is said to have been originally commissioned in Flanders. It now resides in Kings College, a rare gift from two Librarians who discovered the manuscript in an antiquarian book store. The Psalter consists of 197 vellum pages, written in the Gothic style and brilliantly illuminated.
Website: - http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/story.html?listing_id
Medieval Manuscripts – The Cary Collection, housed at the Rochester Institute of Technology, is the work of one Melbert B Cary Jnr assembled in the 1920s and 1930s. This collection includes 51 Pages from medieval monastic manuscripts collected from around Europe, and includes Psalters and Books of Hours. These illuminated manuscripts date from between the 12th and 16th centuries.
Website: - http://wally.rit.edu/cary/cc_db/manuscripts/
Burnet Psalter – This Psalter was donated to the University of Aberdeen by Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury (d.1715). Gilbert was a noted historian, theologian and advisor to King William III.
Website: - http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/historic/collects/bps/
The Parma Psalter – This is a Hebrew manuscript of 452 pages, commissioned around 1280 in Northern Italy. The Psalter contained mainly Biblical texts. This site also demonstrates how a manuscript is produced - or in this case, reproduced from an original.
Website: - http://www.facsimile-editions.com/en/pp/
Online Psalters - at Wikipedia
Website: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalter
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Article added: 2006-11-14 @ 3:22 am | Last Modified: 2006-11-30 @ 7:54 pm
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