Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Ornamental Border with Flowers and Squirrel (verso)

Description

This leaf and the one nearby were excised from the same prayer book. They reveal the favored secular motifs that include decorations with animals, peasants, and domestic activities such as cooking. Here a woman is shown kneading bread. A composite text combining features of a psalter, a collection of psalms or religious verses, and a prayer book, it was used during Mass and other services. The original book was a highly personalized volume written and illuminated in or around the city of Hildesheim in Northern Germany, as suggested by the prominent inclusion of Saint Godehard, Bishop of Hildesheim (died 1038), in the calendar (not shown).

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: Ornamental Border with Flowers and Squirrel (verso)

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c. 1524

Accession Number

2006.15.b

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