The Breslau Psalter
Psalter with miniatures and historiated initials
Texts and Images
Psalms 1, 26, 38, 51, 52, 68, 80, 97, 101 and 109 introduced the ten sections into which medieval Psalters were often divided. Each of these ten Psalms is preceded by full-page miniatures and opens with a large historiated initial. The remaining 140 Psalms received small miniatures in the borders, usually illustrating their opening verse or main theme.
Small miniatures for Psalms 12 and 13
The miniatures are faithful illustrations of the adjacent text. They show David being threatened by an armed man, but receiving the light of salvation from Christ as he touches his eyes (above, Psalm 12), and kneeling in recognition of God unlike the fool opposite him who denies God’s existence (below, Psalm 13).