KING DAVID, a large historiated initial from an illuminated pocket Psalter [southern Spain, diocese of Seville, first quarter 13th century]

A striking Romanesque miniature opening Psalm 52 (‘Dixit Insipiens’) from a Spanish Psalter. Early Spanish illumination is rare on the market, and the present miniature, with its distinctive palette of greens and purples, is a fascinating example.
This was one of only two historiated initials in the imperfect parent manuscript sold in 1967. Other leaves without miniatures have reappeared on the market, with some in institutional collections (University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Coll. 591 and Stanford University, M1784, for example).

Provenance:
- The parent manuscript was sold at Sotheby’s, 12 December 1967, lot 37. It was most likely produced in Seville: the feast of Saints Justa and Rufina (17 July), the principal patron saints of Seville, was in gold in the calendar. The saints also appeared in the Litany, along with the three brothers of Seville, Isidore, Leander and Fulgentius, and the Saints Ildefonsus and Leocadia of Toledo.
- The present leaf was sold at Sotheby’s, 21 June 1988, lot 5.

Measurements:
138 x 95mm. 22 lines of text in small gothic hand.

Bibliography:
J. Rendell, Autographs and manuscripts, A Collector's Manual, 1978, p.22.
M. Manion, C. de Hamel & V. Vines, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in New Zealand Collections, 1989, no 106.

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