ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT CHOIRBOOK LEAF SPAIN c 1475, SANCTUS, ELABORATE INITIALS

Description

Original Manuscript Gregorian Chant from a GRADUAL,
SPAIN, c 1475-1500
SANCTUS: "
(
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS
...)"
(IM-12927)
Original medieval illuminated manuscript leaf with Gregorian chant from a large Spanish
Gradual
on animal parchment  Size is 533 x 370mm – 21 x 14.5 inches.
The manuscript Latin text and music were written in black ink on both sides of the leaf, consisting of 5 lines of music on  five-line staves.
It was created in
Spain, c. 1475-1500,
beautifully
executed by hand
over 500 years ago in the 15
th
century!!!
This leaf exhibits an elegant puzzle initial “S”
in red & blue with elaborate internal & external geometric "puzzle design" (in the Moorish influenced
Mudejar style
) in
intricate red & violet penwork
. It also has
three
elaborate knot-work (cadel) initials
heightened with yellow - one has intricate internal designs in violet.
“A pen with a long slit - half or three-quarters of an inch - was used for drawing these flourishes” (Reference:
Mudejar Ornament in Manuscripts,
by Frances Spalding
, p. 4,
Hispanic Society of America, 1953
,
).  Aside from the pen a sizable amount of talent was also required to produce this amazing fluid puzzle design!
The
elaborate illuminated “S” begins the
Sanctus –
a prayer which has been part of the Mass since the first century: “Sanctus…” (Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory...).
This is an original, not a reproduction, and is in excellent condition with some devotional wear on verso as seen in the photos.
I
t comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Graduals contain the musical chants for the proper of the Mass: introits, graduals, tracts, alleluia, offertory and communion verses, and sequences for special feasts.
They were used by priests, monks and nuns in churches and religious enclaves. The large size allowed them to be seen by multiple members of a choral section.
They may also include chants for the ordinary of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and for the introductory ‘asperges’ rite.
As is usual with Medieval and Renaissance parchment, the hair side of the leaf is darker than the flesh side, but may take ink somewhat better.  The differences in tone caused scribes to arrange their quires so that the hair side of one sheet faced the hair side of the next, and the flesh side faced the flesh side.
We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.