DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22421#0220
156
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Letter VI.
outlines are kept of a reddish colour, which is characteristic of the
English miniatures ; the shirt of mail is blue ; the architectural
background exhibits late antique forms. P. 49 a, the Psalm
" Quid gloriaris in malitia tua." In the Q is a king enthroned
with a figure before him, addressing these words to him; in
the tail of the Q is a pretty motive in the style of the Car-
lovingian Manuscripts—a monkey shooting at a dragon with
human head. P. 68 a, above, the Sacrifice of Abraham, upon a
regular altar, with curtains ; below, two bishops, with mitres, with
the usual points, but of a low form. P. 77 b, in the lower part of
the E, in reference to the words " Exultate choro," is David
playing on the harp-shaped psalter, and a youth playing the
guitar; above is another figure blowing the horn ; in his left hand
the hammer and bell game, and a third figure, who is striking the
bells with two hammers. P. 104 a, in a D is the First Person of
the Trinity, above, with Christ, both in the Mosaic type of the
latter; below are both as kings; in the centre the Holy Ghost as
a dove. P. 118, in the initial N above, St. Peter and St. Paul
standing, and below two figures seated. P. 129 a, above, St.
Peter walking on the water, Christ on the shore pointing to him,
four disciples in the vessel; below, Christ of very dignified cha-
racter, appearing to the eleven apostles, who are very animated in
action ; five of them are kneeling in the air.
A Psalter (Arundel, No. 157), folio, 185 leaves ; in beautiful
full minuscule letters ; as far as p. 126 in one column, after that
in two. This manuscript, which may have been executed about
1210, is interesting in three ways—in the pictures, as giving an
early specimen of the very dark body colours, which were not com-
monly used till 1250, and as showing a decided Byzantine influence
in many of the subjects ; for instance, in the Nativity, in the Cru-
cifixion, and in the Descent of the Holy Ghost;—in the initials,
as in the ornaments, for their singular beauty and admirable taste ;
for instance, the white patterns upon coloured grounds ;—and
thirdly, for the wonderful preservation of the gold grounds and of
the very beautiful colours during a period of about 640 years,
which is an indisputable proof of their technical excellence. For
the rest, the pictures are without intelligence, the drapery poor
and not understood, indicating the artist to have been some
monk, who was not in the condition to cultivate anything beyond
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Letter VI.
outlines are kept of a reddish colour, which is characteristic of the
English miniatures ; the shirt of mail is blue ; the architectural
background exhibits late antique forms. P. 49 a, the Psalm
" Quid gloriaris in malitia tua." In the Q is a king enthroned
with a figure before him, addressing these words to him; in
the tail of the Q is a pretty motive in the style of the Car-
lovingian Manuscripts—a monkey shooting at a dragon with
human head. P. 68 a, above, the Sacrifice of Abraham, upon a
regular altar, with curtains ; below, two bishops, with mitres, with
the usual points, but of a low form. P. 77 b, in the lower part of
the E, in reference to the words " Exultate choro," is David
playing on the harp-shaped psalter, and a youth playing the
guitar; above is another figure blowing the horn ; in his left hand
the hammer and bell game, and a third figure, who is striking the
bells with two hammers. P. 104 a, in a D is the First Person of
the Trinity, above, with Christ, both in the Mosaic type of the
latter; below are both as kings; in the centre the Holy Ghost as
a dove. P. 118, in the initial N above, St. Peter and St. Paul
standing, and below two figures seated. P. 129 a, above, St.
Peter walking on the water, Christ on the shore pointing to him,
four disciples in the vessel; below, Christ of very dignified cha-
racter, appearing to the eleven apostles, who are very animated in
action ; five of them are kneeling in the air.
A Psalter (Arundel, No. 157), folio, 185 leaves ; in beautiful
full minuscule letters ; as far as p. 126 in one column, after that
in two. This manuscript, which may have been executed about
1210, is interesting in three ways—in the pictures, as giving an
early specimen of the very dark body colours, which were not com-
monly used till 1250, and as showing a decided Byzantine influence
in many of the subjects ; for instance, in the Nativity, in the Cru-
cifixion, and in the Descent of the Holy Ghost;—in the initials,
as in the ornaments, for their singular beauty and admirable taste ;
for instance, the white patterns upon coloured grounds ;—and
thirdly, for the wonderful preservation of the gold grounds and of
the very beautiful colours during a period of about 640 years,
which is an indisputable proof of their technical excellence. For
the rest, the pictures are without intelligence, the drapery poor
and not understood, indicating the artist to have been some
monk, who was not in the condition to cultivate anything beyond