The Macclesfield Psalter

The Macclesfield Master

Artists

The Macclesfield Master designed the overall decorative programme and supplied most of the pictorial contents. Figures displaying a range of emotions and convincing depictions of the human body are characteristic of his style. He painted the full-page miniatures of St Edmund of Bury and St Andrew; an image of Christ as Judge; all but one of the historiated initials; most of the busts and profiles inside other Psalm initials; most of the borders (including figural decoration) and almost all of the bas-de-page scenes.

The initial extends into a three-sided bar border incorporating foliate motifs, a bust within a medallion and a hybrid. Another hybrid and a kneeling man doffing his hat are shown in the bas-de-page.

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