Antiphonal Leaf

This original leaf from the manuscript Antiphonal of Marguerite De Bacovel; Abbey of Monte de Ste.-Marie, Gosnay (South Flanders), 1539-42. It was completed for her by Louis de Villechecq, Vicar of the nunnery and a Carthusian monk. 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. A large blue illuminated initial has a burnished gold ground with an internal floral design. One intriguing calligraphic initial is colored with wash. The illuminated initial E” begins I Corinthians 3:6, followed by II Corinthians 11:25 “Ego plantavi?” (I have planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase?Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck?).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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