Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Initial E with Ornamental Border Containing a Seated Satyr and a Bird Eating Grapes (recto)

Description

This leaf and the one nearby were excised from the same prayer book that contained ornamental borders on nearly every page. They represent the intricate decoration found throughout the parent volume, its leaves now dispersed. Virtually every border, recto and verso, or front and back, was decorated with liquid gold and highlighted with a variety of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and animals; here a bird eats grapes while seated below is a satyr, or half goat and half man.

Provenance

Arms of Mansfeld (16th century), Prussia, between Magdeburg and Merseburg; Compte d'Aspremont-Lynden (19th century); [Sotheby's, London, 23 June 1987, lot 99]; [Jörn Günther, Hamburg]; [Bruce Ferrini, Akron]

Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Initial E with Ornamental Border Containing a Seated Satyr and a Bird Eating Grapes (recto)

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c. 1524

Accession Number

2006.15.a

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

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection