European School, 16th Century

Antiphonal Leaf [Large Format Music Manuscript] with an Historiated Capital "S.".

Gold leaf, tempera and ink on thick laid paper. 16th century. 20 1/8 x 13 5/8 in. (511 x 346 mm). Sheet Size: 25 1/4 x 17 3/4 in. (641 x 451 mm). Features one historiated capital with tempera and gold leaf and latin text with black square note (quadratic notation) music on a red four-line stanza. The Antiphonary contains chants for the canonical hours of the Divine office; used by priests, monks and nuns in churches and religious enclaves. They are boldly hand written and illuminated on large sheets meant to be shared by several people.