The Psalter-Hours of Isabelle of France

Psalter

Texts and Images

Psalms 1, 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97 and 109 introduce the eight groups into which most 13th-century French Psalters were divided for daily recitation. These eight Psalms open with historiated initials painted on highly burnished gold grounds by a single artist (Hand B). Most of them show King David in prayer and scenes illustrating the Psalms’ opening verses. Ordinary Psalms open with fully illuminated ornamental initials – pink or blue letters on gold grounds, or gold letters on pink and blue grounds, with green or black added in initials painted by two of the assistants (Hands 3 and 5 respectively).

David prays to God in the upper part of the initial C. Below, two clerks sing from an open book and look up to God. This standard image for Psalm 97 in 13th-century French Psalters and Bibles illustrates the opening verse of Psalm 97, written in gold on the right and continuing beneath the image, Cantate domino canticum novum (‘Sing to the Lord a new canticle’). The initial was painted by Hand B.

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