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Manuscript - Initial B, with David playing the lute
  • Initial B, with David playing the lute
    Libri, Girolamo dai, born 1474
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Initial B, with David playing the lute

  • Object:

    Manuscript

  • Place of origin:

    Verona, Italy (illuminated)

  • Date:

    1480-1490 (illuminated)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Libri, Girolamo dai, born 1474 (attributed to, illuminator)
    Libri, Francesco dai, born 1445 - died 1506 (attributed to, illuminator)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Tempera on parchment

  • Credit Line:

    Bequeathed by D. M. Currie

  • Museum number:

    E.1168-1921

  • Gallery location:

    Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E, case I, shelf 78, box A

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In Italy illuminated choirbooks and liturgical manuscripts contain the work of large numbers of miniature painters. Some individuals can be identified. This cutting is attributed to Girolamo dai Libri of Verona. It shows King David, one of the great heroes of the Old Testament, reclining on a rich carpet and playing a stringed instrument. King David was a musician and was traditionally believed to be the author of the Psalms.

Physical description

An illuminated Initial B with a scene of King David playing the lute

Place of Origin

Verona, Italy (illuminated)

Date

1480-1490 (illuminated)

Artist/maker

Libri, Girolamo dai, born 1474 (attributed to, illuminator)
Libri, Francesco dai, born 1445 - died 1506 (attributed to, illuminator)

Materials and Techniques

Tempera on parchment

Dimensions

Height: 275 mm, Weight: 270 mm

Object history note

Bequeathed by David M. Currie in 1921.

Attributed to Francesco dai Libri in the 2006 exh.catal. Mantegna e le Arti a Verona.1450-1500, pp. 359-360.

Historical context note

Mantegna e le Arti a Verona. 1450-1500, ed. by S. Marinelli, and P. Marini, Venice 2006, pp. 359-360: first page of a choir psalter, incipit of the psalm I 'Beatus vir'. Probably the main decoration of a large choir book.

Data taken from notes compiled by Rowan Watson. The full text of the entry is as follows:

' E.1168-1921
CHOIR BOOK [PSALTER-HYMNAL or PSALTER-ANTIPHONAL?]
Cut-out historiated initial B (Davis harping, on an oriental carpet, with attendants, monkey on a ball and chain, and a dog, painted by Girolamo dai Libri). The letter-shape is made up of triton grasping a dragon coiled into the letter B. Possibly the miniature in a psalter for which Cirolanodai Libri was paid on October 7, 1502, by S. Maria in Organo (Levi d.Ancona, 1969, p. 21)

Italy (Verona?) 1502?
(275 x 270) mm.

David Currie Bequest, 1921
Pub: 1923 cat, 90; Levi d'Ancona, 1969, 16-26; Levi d'Ancona, Wildensten Coll., 1970, pp. 70, 74'

Descriptive line

An illuminated cutting from a choir book, Initial B, with David playing the lute

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Marinelli, Sergio and Paola Marini, eds. Mantegna e le Arti a Verona. 1450-1500 Venice: Marsilio Editori s.p.a., 2006, pp. 359-360 : here attributed to Francesco dai Libri; see this bibliographic reference for a summary of the attributions to Girolamo or Francesco dai Libri
Exhibition catalogue
The Painted Page. Italian Renaissance Book Illumination. 1450-1550, ed. by J.J.G.Alexander, Munchen, 1994: attributed to Girolamo dai Libri

Exhibition History

Mantegna e le Arti a Verona 1450-1500 (Palazzo dalla Gran Guardia, Verona 16/09/2006-14/01/2007)

Materials

Parchment

Subjects depicted

Dog; David (King); Monkey (animal)

Categories

Christianity; Clothing; Manuscripts; Musical instruments

Collection code

PDP

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Qr_O89301
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