Psalters.
Subject
Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Scope Note: Refers to books or other document forms containing the Book of Psalms, which is composed of 150 psalms of the Old Testament. A psalter is usually divided into sections to be recited daily at Matins and Sunday Vespers, used as a liturgical book for the clergy in the Divine Office (forming the basis for the Breviary) or by the laity for private devotions. In addition to the psalms, psalters generally contain an ecclesiastical calendar, canticles, creeds, and the litany of the saints. King David and his court musicians were traditionally considered to be the authors of the psalms; the subjects of the psalms have to do with hymns in praise of God and pleas for help and mercy. In the Christian tradition, the psalms were interpreted with the Lord of the Old Testament understood to be Christ the Messiah. Various passages of individual psalms were seen as Christian metaphors and prefigurations. The Hebrew text of the psalms reached the Latin West by way of translations made by St. Jerome in the 4th century AD, two from the Greek version (the Septuagint) and one directly from the original language. The three versions, known respectively as the Roman, Gallican, and Hebrew Psalters. The psalter was one of the most frequently illustrated medieval texts in the West, beginning around 725 and flourishing between the 12th and 14th centuries. The text was often enhanced with precious ornament and images; however, psalms did not readily lend themselves to literal illustration, in contrast to the narrative portions of the bible. Consequently, their illustration was varied, both in format and in iconography. Most illuminated psalters were illustrated with decorated or historiated initials at the main divisions of the text.
Found in 18 Collections and/or Records:
Brigittine psalter and hours, apparently written for an Italian convent., 1535.
Item
Identifier: MS.1904
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows.(i) Calendar, with entries for the Translation of St Bridget, 28 May, her Deposition, 23 July, and Canonization, 7 October. (Folio 1.)(ii) Rules for finding the date of Easter; in Italian as well as Latin. The date of the volume is given by the following: 'Nel presente anno del mille cinquecento trentacinque corrte laureo numero, xvi'. (Folio 7.)(iii) Psalter (folio 9); the seven canticles from Lauds for the week, Magnificat,...
Dates:
1535.
Cover of a book (probably an incunable) with a pastedown consisting of a complete vellum leaf from a noted fifteenth-century psalter., 15th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.7147
Scope and Contents
The fragment contains Psalms cx(111), verse 1-cxi(112), verse 5, and probably the two preceding psalms.
Dates:
15th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
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Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
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Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh.
'Iona Psalter'.
Item
Identifier: MS.10000
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows.(i) Calendar in black, red and blue. The KL initials, and the entries for the major festivals and for the feast of St Columba (9 June), probably intended to have been in gold, have not been completed. The feasts are fully graded with two entries for Saints Benedict, Augustine and Frideswide (12 February and 19 October). There are a number of English saints and also entries for the Scottish Saints Felan (8 January), Ciaran (4 March) and Finan (7 April)....
Dates:
4th quarter of 12th century-1st quarter of 13th century.
Late 13th-century manuscript known as the 'Sprouston Breviary'.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.2.13B
Scope and Contents
This manuscript was produced in Scotland in the late 13th century, probably sometime between 1285 and 1300 according to Hair and Knott. Borland, Frere and McRoberts have suggested that it may be of the early 14th century, but most scholars agree that it was written sometime around 1300. The manuscript contains musical services as well as the text of Church services according to the Use of Sarum. The work is written in littera textualis in double columns of unequal length....
Dates:
Late 13th century.
Manuscript known as the 'Herdmanstoun Antiphonal', or 'Herdmanstoun Breviary'.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.2.13A
Scope and Contents
Manuscript known traditionally as the Herdmanstoun Breviary, but more correctly described as an Antiphonal. It was written in the north of England, possibly Northumberland, but later taken to Scotland and altered. It has been suggested by Höhler that the manuscript was possibly written for the college of canons founded at Chester-le-Street by Bishop Anthony Bek of Durham. Bannister speculates that the volume may have been brought to Scotland during the reign of David II (1329-1371). ...
Dates:
Circa 1300
Microfilm of Bohun Psalter. Hours and Psalter according to the use of Sarum, made in England for Eleanor de Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.83
Dates:
Late 14th century.
Microfilm of Iona Psalter, written in England probably for a nun on Iona.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.79
Dates:
4th quarter of 12th century-1st quarter of 13th century.
Microfilm of late 13th century manuscript, known as the 'Sprouston Breviary
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.884
Dates:
Late 13th century.
Microfilm of manuscript in Gaelic, titled ‘Neil MacBeath’s Psalter’, containing medical notes and Psalm 118, the ‘Divine Office’.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.468
Dates:
15th century-16th century.
Microfilm of missal, psalters and calendar of Scottish religious houses.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.469
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Lesmahagow missal, probably written for use in the Tironensian priory of Lesmahagow, first half of the 13th century; and additional related material acquired at the same time (MSS.16495-16496);
Inchmahome Psalter, late 13th century to 14th century, probably from the Low Countries (Acc.12780);Calendar, 13th century, of Holyrood Abbey: a bifolium containing the entries for July to October (MS.5048);Perth psalter, late 15th century,...
Dates:
13th century-late 15th century.
Microfilm of ‘Neil MacBeath’s Psalter’, 15th century-16th century; and, Dean Brown’s prayer book, [circa 1498].
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.467
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Manuscript in Gaelic, 15th century-16th century, titled ‘Neil MacBeath’s Psalter’, containing medical notes and Psalm 118, the ‘Divine Office’ (Adv.MS.72.1.4);
Dean Brown’s prayer book, [circa 1498], written and illuminated in the Netherlands (MS.10270).
Dates:
15th century-16th century.
Microfilm of Psalter of French provenance; and, Book of hours.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.532
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Psalter of French provenance, 2nd half of 15th century, written for a community of Dominican nuns (MS.7122);
Book of hours, 2nd half of 15th century, probably according to the Use of Rome (MS.7124).
Dates:
2nd half of 15th century.
Microfilm of psalters and chartulary, 13th-15th century, of Scottish religious houses; and, 'Lives of the bishops of Dunkeld' by Alexander Myln, 16th century.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.470
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Culross psalter, [circa 1470], made for Richard Marshall, Cistercian abbot of Culross (Adv.MS.18.8.11);
Aberdeen psalter and hours, 15th century (Adv.MS.18.8.14);
Ramsay psalter, late 13th century, written for use at Saint Omer (Adv.MS.18.8.8);
15th century manuscript, Chartulary of Scone Abbey (Adv.MS.34.3.28);
'Lives of the bishops of Dunkeld' by Alexander Myln, 16th century (Adv.MS.34.5.4).
Dates:
13th century-16th century.
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh., 13th century-17th century.
Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS.7122-7149
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
In addition to the medieval manuscripts, there are some non-religious books of later date, and a few unrelated fragments.
Dates:
13th century-17th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
Series
Identifier: MSS.7122-7150
Scope and Contents
In addition to the medieval manuscripts, there are some non-religious books of later date, and a few unrelated fragments.
Dates:
13th century-17th century; 1881-1882.
Perth Psalter, containing calendar, psalter, canticles, and litany.
Item
Identifier: MS.652
Scope and Contents
Referred to as the Perth Psalter from the entry in the calendar on 3rd September, ‘Dedicacio ecclesie de Perth’.The calendar and the litany are based on the use of Sarum, with additional entries for Scottish Saints. There are several illuminated capitals, four of the larger of these are accompanied by full-page borders of conventional foliage. Accompanying the manuscript is a list of additions to the calendar in a later cursive hand which were brought out by chemical action by F...
Dates:
Late 15th century.
Psalter of French provenance, written for a community of Dominican nuns., 2nd half of 15th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.7122
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
(i) Psalter (folio 1);
(ii) Canticles (folio 135 verso);
(iii) Litany and supplications (folio 138);
(iv) Vespers of the Dead, followed by the 'Commendatio Animae' and the 'Subvenite' (folio 142 verso) (folio 149 should precede folio 143);
(v) Gospel according to St John, XIII-XVIII (folio 159).The margins of many leaves are defective; some of them have been supplied by means of fresh pieces of vellum. The extract from St John's Gospel is in a...
Dates:
2nd half of 15th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh.
Psalter of Low Countries provenance., ?2nd half of 13th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.7123
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
(i) Calendar (folio 1);
(ii) Psalter (folio 15);
(iii) Canticles of the Psalter, 'Confitebor' to 'Quicunque vult',and Magnificat (folio 186);
(iv) Capitula and collects for the feast of St Lambert (folio 204). Lacking leaves after folios 91, 104, 203. Red and blue penwork initials. Some names including Saints Dominic and Donatus have been added in a later hand to the calendar; others, including some of the additional names, have been erased. The...
Dates:
?2nd half of 13th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh.