Antiphonal Leaf

This is an original leaf, on animal vellum, from the Antiphonal of Marguerite De Bacval. Completed for her by Louis de Villechecq, Vicar of the nunnery and a Carthusian monk. Abbey of Mont de Ste.-Marie, Gosnay (South Flanders), 1539-42.The manuscript text and music (seven lines on a four-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand in black ink with headings, rubrics and rulings in red. One large blue initial is illuminated and has an internal floral motif on burnished gold ground. The three large intriguing calligraphic initials are colored with wash.The Calligraphic L” begins John 11:11: “Lazarus our friend sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep). The calligraphic “I begins John 11:41: “Iesus?” (Jesus lifting up his eyes said: Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me). The illuminated “U” begins Psalm 12:3-4: “Usquequo?” (How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God?).Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline.

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