DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0107
Letter XXIV.
ENGLISH. MSS.
95
the 14th century. Upon the border, below, two naked figures
riding- upon a bear and a lion—also, the same animals fighting.
Other pretty drolleries and graceful decorations also occur, while
the number of smaller initials is unusually large.
A Psalter in two volumes, very small duodecimo, written in one
column, with a very full minuscule letter, about 1350. In the
calendar, which occupies twelve leaves, on the first page of each
month are pretty drolleries in the border; and slightly drawn but
very animated representations of the occupations of the month in
frameworks of Gothic form. The next following pictures are of
considerable artistic merit. Some compositions are very original;
the heads, though drawn with the pen in the fashion of 1300-1350,
are very pleasing; the draperies already of that soft and delicately
modelled cast which was in vogue in 1350. The grounds consist
in graceful gold scroll-work, or very fine panelled patterns: on
the somewhat simple borders are pleasing drolleries, almost every
page exhibiting some humorous incident. Then come eight pictures
of excellent Gothic taste, from the Annunciation to the Holy
Trinity, the Almighty holding the crucified Saviour before him.
In the B at the beginning of the Psalms is David, above, playing
on the psalter, and, below, fighting with Goliah. To these suc-
ceed similar pictures of the Passion, the first of which—Christ in
the sepulchre, supported by two angels above, with two weeping
angels in the sky, and four figures at the sides with empty scrolls—
is remarkable. At the beginning of the second volume, in re-
ference to the psalm " Exultate Deo," &c. is David, youthfully
conceived, hammering upon the bells in very lively action. On
the border, three figures playing upon organ, shawm, and vio-
loncello, and a figure dancing; then the events of the Passion ;
and, finally, the Last Judgment. Above is Christ, both hands
raised ; the Virgin and St. John seated under Gothic gables. In
the four corners four trumpeting angels ; below are only the dead
rising. On the opposite page, in reference to the psalm " Dixit
Dominus," &c. are the Almighty and Christ enthroned, side by
side—also under Gothic gables. Upon the border are two loving
couples—a characteristic feature of the feeling of the middle ages,
which united the deepest earnestness and the lightest mirth.
A romance of Alexander the Great in French verse, an English
poem, and the French history of the great Caan (Bodl. No. 264),
large folio. At the conclusion of the first work is written in
ENGLISH. MSS.
95
the 14th century. Upon the border, below, two naked figures
riding- upon a bear and a lion—also, the same animals fighting.
Other pretty drolleries and graceful decorations also occur, while
the number of smaller initials is unusually large.
A Psalter in two volumes, very small duodecimo, written in one
column, with a very full minuscule letter, about 1350. In the
calendar, which occupies twelve leaves, on the first page of each
month are pretty drolleries in the border; and slightly drawn but
very animated representations of the occupations of the month in
frameworks of Gothic form. The next following pictures are of
considerable artistic merit. Some compositions are very original;
the heads, though drawn with the pen in the fashion of 1300-1350,
are very pleasing; the draperies already of that soft and delicately
modelled cast which was in vogue in 1350. The grounds consist
in graceful gold scroll-work, or very fine panelled patterns: on
the somewhat simple borders are pleasing drolleries, almost every
page exhibiting some humorous incident. Then come eight pictures
of excellent Gothic taste, from the Annunciation to the Holy
Trinity, the Almighty holding the crucified Saviour before him.
In the B at the beginning of the Psalms is David, above, playing
on the psalter, and, below, fighting with Goliah. To these suc-
ceed similar pictures of the Passion, the first of which—Christ in
the sepulchre, supported by two angels above, with two weeping
angels in the sky, and four figures at the sides with empty scrolls—
is remarkable. At the beginning of the second volume, in re-
ference to the psalm " Exultate Deo," &c. is David, youthfully
conceived, hammering upon the bells in very lively action. On
the border, three figures playing upon organ, shawm, and vio-
loncello, and a figure dancing; then the events of the Passion ;
and, finally, the Last Judgment. Above is Christ, both hands
raised ; the Virgin and St. John seated under Gothic gables. In
the four corners four trumpeting angels ; below are only the dead
rising. On the opposite page, in reference to the psalm " Dixit
Dominus," &c. are the Almighty and Christ enthroned, side by
side—also under Gothic gables. Upon the border are two loving
couples—a characteristic feature of the feeling of the middle ages,
which united the deepest earnestness and the lightest mirth.
A romance of Alexander the Great in French verse, an English
poem, and the French history of the great Caan (Bodl. No. 264),
large folio. At the conclusion of the first work is written in