Revered Psalm: “De Profundis”
Recto: 15 lines of text in Latin written in a fine lettre bâtarde hand in brown ink on vellum. Ruled in red and rubrics, unusually, in blue. One splendid two-line illuminated initial ‘D’ in salmon and blue with black and white penwork. The initial is on a raised and highly burnished gold ground outlined in black and is infilled with a coloured foliate design. Eight similar illuminated one-line initials and eight line fillers.
To the right of the text is a superb panel of illuminations consisting of blue and liquid gold acanthus leaves, green, red and blue foliage and fine black tendrils bearing brightly shining gold bezants. A burnished gold bar border runs the length of the illuminated panel.
The delicate, precise illuminations are of very high quality.
Verso: As Recto, with seven similar illuminated initials and three line fillers.
Origin: Northern France.
Date: c.1490.
Content: The one-line illuminated initials on Recto begin a number of versicles and responses, before the two-line ‘D’ begins psalm 129 (KJV130):
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine: Domine exaudi vocem meam.
(Out of the depths have I cried to thee, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice!)
The psalm continues on Verso to its conclusion.
Condition: The leaf is in excellent condition. There is very slight darkening of the vellum from a previous mounting, but not visible in the window of the mat. One wormhole and residue of previous hingeing in the top margin. The colours of the illuminations remain intense and the burnished & liquid gold shines brightly. The leaf is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.
Notes: Psalm 130 (Vulgate 129) is one of the Seven Penitential Psalms and one of the shortest Psalms. It reflects the cry of an individual in deep sorrow for God’s mercy.
Books of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity who wished to emulate the cycle of daily devotions followed by the clergy but without taking actual vows. The contents grew out of the psalter but included a mixed variety of other types of material - hymns, lessons, biblical readings, calendars etc. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight Hours (times for prayer): Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.
Size: Leaf: approx. 210x150 mm. Please note that shipping is invoiced seperately.
Text:
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine: Domine exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes: in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris Domine: Domine quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: propter legem tuam sustinui te Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius: speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia: et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel: ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Item No: MBH194a
