The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 4, 2023

Single Leaf Excised from a Psalter: Initial D[ominus illuminatio mea] with Samuel Anointing David

c. 1270–1290

Northeastern France, 13th century

Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum

Sheet: 26.1 x 19.3 cm (10 1/4 x 7 5/8 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1985.82

Location

not on view

Description

This historiated initial serves as a visual lead to Psalm 26, which begins with the last two lines of the page: Dominus illuminatio mea (The Lord is my light). By setting the body of the initial against a blue diapered (patterned) background for chromatic effect, the artist observed the latest fashion in book illumination.

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"

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, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011).

Devotion and Leaning in the Middle Ages- (Manuscript Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1985.82