The Macclesfield Psalter
Painting the flesh
Artists' Techniques
Flesh tones contain mostly lead white, with occasional additions of small amounts of earth pigments and red lead. Some figures, like the wild man (fol. 58r) and St John the Baptist (fol. 133r) have green or blue flesh tones, obtained with verdigris and indigo respectively.
Ornamental initial B with foliate motif (Psalm 91)
The initial extends into a three-sided bar border showing St John the Baptist, holding aloft and gesturing at a medallion depicting the Lamb of God. An archer shooting at a pair of acrobats directly opposite on the previous page (fol. 132v) is shown in the bas-de-page.