Details

Subject(s)

• Psalters—France [Browse]
• Catholic Church—Prayers and devotions [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]

Donor

• Garrett, Robert, 1875-1961 [Browse]

Related name

• Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Garrett MS. 36. [Browse]

Rare books genre

• Morocco bindings [Browse]

Getty AAT genre

• Psalters—France—13th century [Browse]
• Illuminated manuscripts—France—13th century [Browse]
• Miniatures (Illuminations)—France—13th century [Browse]
• Historiated initials—France—13th century [Browse]
• Parchment [Browse]
• Textura [Browse]

Compiled/​Created

[ca. 1250].

Summary note

Ms. Psalter, written and illuminated in the 1250s in France, probably Paris, for an owner requiring use of the Benedictine Abbey of Ste-Croix, Poitiers, as is determined by the litany, petitions, and collects, all notable for their length.

Notes

• Decoration: Illumination by one French artist of Parisian training. 7 historiated initials at the liturgical division of psalms, three of 9 lines for psalms 1 (modern), 26, and 52 (ff. 1r, 19v, 42v); two of 8 lines for psalms 68 and 109 (ff. 54v, 95v); and two of 7 lines for psalms 80 and 97 (ff. 69r, 82r). 2-line champide initials for regular psalms, canticles, K(yrie) of litany, and collects. Colors of dark blue, royal blue, rose-pink, orange, gray, chalky green, and burnished gold. Pen-flourishing typical of Parisian work of mid-13th century. 1-line versal initials in alternating gold with blue penwork and blue with red penwork. Line-endings in abstract or foliate ornament of blue and gold or blue and red.
• Layout: Parchment; in single column, except on ff. 135v-138 in two columns (litany and petitions); 190 x 150 (160 x 110/112) mm.; 21 lines, ruled 8 mm. apart.

Binding note

1900 (according to note on f. i), navy blue morocco blind-stamped and gilt; spine-title, "Psalterium MS. in Membranis."

Language note

Latin

Script

Textura semiquadrata.

Provenance

In 14th century, antiphons for psalms added in margins (many trimmed by a later binder) and cues for psalms on f. 143v were written in one hand. Early modern provenance unknown. Around 1900, the top half of the present f. 1r was replaced with modern parchment, script, pen-flourished 1-line initials and line-endings, a 2-line champide initial, and a historiated initial with wrong depiction of the Annunciation for psalm 1, at the time when the psalter was rebound. Robert Garrett (1875-1961), Class of 1897, of Baltimore, Maryland; his bookplate on inner front cover, deposit no. 7895 on f. i.

Source acquisition

Gift of Robert Garrett, 1942.

References

• De Ricci, v. 1, p. 871
• Green, p. 187 (no. 28 [f. 42v])

Cite as

Garrett MS. 36, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Place name(s)

France.

Spine title

• Psalterium MS. in Membranis

OCLC

77699433

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