The Breslau Psalter

The Associate of the Master of Giovanni da Gaibana

Artists

Ten of the eleven images often attributed to the Gaibana Master are closely related in style and technique to the Beatus initial (fol. 23v), but display a different choice of pigments. The differences, most obvious in the faces and drapery, suggest the involvement of a close Associate who emulated the Gaibana Master’s compositions, style and painting technique, but did not share his pigments. Unlike the Gaibana Master who chose earth pigments, his Associate made prolific use of azurite in flesh tones and beards, as well as in blue areas and green mixtures. The Associate was responsible for the full-page miniature on fol. 49v, the historiated initial for Psalm 38 (fol. 51r), and eight small miniatures (fols. 41r, 47v, 52r, 52v, 53r, 54r (two images), and probably 55r).

Lightbox: 209
1
Detail of David’s face under magnification (20x).
Lightbox: 210
2
Detail of David’s face under magnification (20x).

The images are faithful illustrations of the adjacent text. They show David imploring God to protect him from evil men (above, Psalm 42) and thanking God for supporting his ancestors (below, Psalm 43). Both images were painted by the Gaibana Master’s Associate.