Description
This leaf reveals the charm of secular decoration such as satyrs or domestic activities like cooking. Such details would have been a sumptuous delight to the original owner. The original book was a highly personalized volume apparently written and illuminated in North Germany as suggested by internal textual references. The prominent inclusion of Saint Godehard (died 1038), Bishop of Hildesheim, in the calendar (not visible) would suggest that the manuscript was produced in that city.
Provenance
Mansfeld Family, Prussia, between Magdeburg and Merseburg, Germany (1500s); Adrienne Louvignies Family (Mid 1500s); Compte d'Aspremont-Lynden (1800s); Brothers Michael Linel (1830-1892) and Albert Linel (1833-1916) of Frankfurt am Main, Germany (-1892); City of Frankfurt, Germany, for the Kunstgewerbemuseu, deaccessioned parent manuscript (1892-1953); [Sale: Sotheby's, London, 23 June 1987, lot 99, sold to Pairvel] (23 June 1987); Pairvel (1987-); [Jörn Günther, Hamburg, Germany]; [Bruce Ferrini, Akron, OH, sold to Jeanne Miles Blackburn]; Jeanne Miles Blackburn, Durham, NC, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-2011); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (2011-)
Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Initial E with Ornamental Border Containing a Seated Satyr and a Bird Eating Grapes (recto) and Ornamental Border with Flowers and Squirrel (verso) (2 of 3 Excised Leaves)
c. 1524
Accession Number
2006.15
Medium
ink, tempera and liquid gold on vellum
Dimensions
Each leaf: 16.6 x 13.5 cm (6 9/16 x 5 5/16 in.)
Classification
Manuscript
Credit Line
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection
