Enarrationes in Psalmos: MS McClean 103

Titles

Enarrationes in Psalmos

Maker(s)

Author: Augustine

Entities

• Other

Categories

• Illuminated manuscript
• Manuscript

Description

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Parchment, ii paper flyleaves + 267 folios + ii paper flyleaves, 355 x 246 (264-272 x 173) mm, two columns, 64 lines, ruled in plummet, hard point and crayon, quire marks, running headers, catchwords, outer margins of fols. 1-3 and 5-32 excised

BINDING: Nineteenth century, dark pink paper and brown leather over pasteboards.

CONTENTS:
fols. 1r–261r Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos, with prologues (fols. 1r-4r)
fols. 262r–267v Supplement of extracts from Augustine’s works

DECORATION: Two historiated initials formed of pink and red acanthus on gold or blue grounds with three-sided bar and acanthus border including an angel, a hybrid, and birds, one of them pecking a wild man on the head: fol. 4r Prologue, [O, 8 ll.] Augustine with an open book on his desk addressed by Christ; fol. 4r Psalm 1 [B, 14 ll.] Christ enthroned and blessing above, David playing psaltery below.

ORNAMENTATION: Red or pink initials [7-14 ll.] with white geometric or acanthus motifs on blue grounds, foliate infill on pink grounds (except fol. 196r, a lion-head), and acanthus extensions for Psalms 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97, 109, 118, 119, 148 (fols. 20r, 48v, 76v, 106v, 133r, 163v, 189v, 196r, 209v, 257v) and prologue to Psalm 109 (fol. 189r); red and blue parted initial [A, 4 ll.] with red and blue pen flourishing (fol. 1r); alternate red and blue penwork initials [2-10 ll.] with purple or red pen-flourished infill and extensions; alternate red and blue penwork initials [1-2 ll.]; text following the initials for the main division Psalms written in alternate red and blue capitals with purple or red pen flourishing; alternate red and blue paraph marks; capitals highlighted in red.

Notes

History note: Augustus Frederick (1773-1843), Duke of Sussex (his bookplate with classmark VI H. m. 5 inside upper cover); part II of his sale, R.H. Evans, London, 31 July 1844, lot 89; Sotheby’s, London, 3 Dec. 1847, lot 216; Thomas Bateman (1821-1861), Middleton Hall, by Youlgrave, Derbyshire (armorial bookplate inside upper cover); to his son, William Bateman; his sale, Sotheby’s, London, 25-31 May 1893, lot 234; Frank McClean (1837–1904); his bequest, 1904.