Skip to main content

Psalter

Breviary of Ercole d"Este, ca. 1502-1504, Modena, Biblioteca Estense Universitaria, Lat.424=V.G.11

Psalter. Most breviaries include a full Psalter or collection of the Psalms in order from 1 to 150. These may be divided according to the days of the week and enhanced with additional readings, prayers, and chants, such as in the Breviary of Ercole d'Este, the half-brother of Leonello d'Este. The first leaf shown below includes the end of Psalm 39, followed by two antiphons, or sung prayers. The text of the Psalter is often embellished by a small illuminated initials, one for every verse. This added decoration emphasizes the sanctity of the text, which was attributed to King David, considered to be a prefiguration of Christ.

Psalms 39:09-41:12

Psalms 66(?)-67:30

Psalms 76:16-77:41

Psalms 80:09-84:04

Psalms 87:12-88:41

Psalms 100:08-102:17

Psalm 118: 124-169

Psalms 134:14 to 137: 4

A Ferial Psalter is organized so that all of the 150 psalms can be said in one week. The psalms are thus divided into sections at Psalms 1, 26, 38, 52, 68, 80, 97, and 109, with each section often marked by an illustration. With a limited number of leaves discovered from the Psalter, it is unclear whether or not the Llangattock Breviary was organized according to the ferial divisions. The leaves found thus far fall in between these, but there may be others comparable to the leaf with Psalm 26 from the Breviary of Ercole I d'Este, included here for comparison.