Collection Online as of March 31, 2023

Single Leaf Excised from a Choir Psalter: Initial E[xultate Deo] with King David Playing the Lute (Psalm 80)

c. 1408

Italy, Bologna, 15th century

Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum

Sheet: 56.5 x 41.9 cm (22 1/4 x 16 1/2 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1953.641

Location

not on view

Description

This leaf once formed part of a deluxe choir psalter produced for the Franciscan convent of Bologna (founded 1229). The initial E with a portrait of King David illustrates the introduction to Psalm 80: Exultate Deo (Rejoice to God). King David, as the author of the Psalms, is prominently illustrated in psalter initials. An abundant spray of colorful acanthus leaves with clambering Franciscan friars provides decoration for the lower left margins and confirmation that it was made for Franciscan use.

Exhibition history

The Cleveland Museum of Art (10/10/2004 - 10/02/2005); "Illuminated Manuscripts"

Cleveland Museum of Art, (11/06/2010 - 04/17/2011); "The Glory Of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collections"
Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 115): December 7, 2015 -

Gothic Art 1360-1440. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 6-September 15, 1963).

Lutes, Lovers, and Lyres: Musical Imagery in the Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 14-June 11, 1989).

Scriptorium: The Illuminated Book in Medieval Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1991-February 2, 1992).

The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993).

Illuminated Manuscripts. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 10, 2004-October 2, 2005).

The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011).

Italian Choral Books of the Renaissance (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 10, 2015-December 12, 2016).