E0032 Leaf from a Gradual (Graduale)

ACC Ege32 recto.jpg
ACC Ege32 verso.jpg

Title

E0032 Leaf from a Gradual (Graduale)

Subject

Gradual

Description

Italy (Florence); Middle 15th Century. Latin Text; Rotunda Gothic Script, square notations.

A Gradual contains the appropriate antiphons of a mass sung by the choir of the Latin Church on Sundays and special holidays. The text was furnished largely by the 150 Psalms and the Canticles of the Old and New Testaments. The superb example of calligraphy in this leaf illustrates the supremacy of the Italian scribes of the time over those of the rest of Europe. It is frequently assumed that this late revival of fine writing may have been caused by the concern of scribes over the impending competition with the newly invented art of printing. The music staff still retains here the early 12th century form with the C-line colored yellow and the F-line red. The four-line red staff had been in use for over two centuries before this manuscript was written.

A very attractive feature of the decoration is the fine penwork in the flourishes around the Lombardic initials, including a delicate purple. Some leaves from this manuscript retain visible follicle evidence of a piebald skin source.

Text: Not yet identified.

Source

Fifty Original Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts

Date

Middle 15th century

Rights

Item in public domain. Description provided by Dr. Fred Porcheddu-Engel via the Otto F. Ege digital collection. http://ege.denison.edu/denison_leaf_32.php

Format

300 dpi JPEG; 26.5 x 20 cm

Language

Latin

Type

Medieval manuscript leaf

Identifier

Denison University Leaf 32, Fifty Original Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts

Tags

Citation

“E0032 Leaf from a Gradual (Graduale),” Digital Exhibits | Denison University Archives & Special Collections, accessed March 28, 2024, https://exhibits.denisonarchives.org/items/show/52.