Bible
Medieval Manuscripts
Item Info
Language: Latin
Folio Number: f. 159v
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes: Initial B with David playing his harp, beginning the Book of Psalms
Notes: The thirteenth century saw the development of small, portable bibles. Romanesque bibles had been large-format, grand productions. In order to create an easily carried, single-volume bible the script became impossibly small. In this example, the scribe wrote about twelve lines to the inch, while the marginal commentary is even tinier, with each line measuring less than a millimeter.
Because so much had to be written in a small space, these portable bibles contain relatively little illustration. In this manuscript, all the figural imagery is contained in the historiated initials that begin the various books of the Bible, as in the B on this page that depicts David with his harp below an image of Christ.
Sirsi Catalog Key:
1583654
Country:
Country:Italy
City/Town/Township:Venice ?
Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin):
1260
Image Dimensions Width:
186 mm
ShelfMark:
Lewis E 39
f. 12v 
ff. 135v-136r 
f.149v 
f. 159v
f. 243v 
ff. 301v-302r 
inner flyleaf