Leaf from a Psalter and Prayerbook: Ornamental Border with Carnations, a Thistle, and a Cook Ladling Soup (verso)

Description

This leaf and others from the collection were excised from the same prayer book. They reveal 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

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 Carnations, a Thistle, and a Cook Ladling Soup (verso)

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c. 1524

Accession Number

1999.136.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