Psalter with miniatures and historiated initials
Texts and Images
Psalms 1, 26, 38, 51, 52, 68, 80, 97, 101 and 109 introduced the ten sections into which medieval Psalters were often divided. Each of these ten Psalms is preceded by full-page miniatures and opens with a large historiated initial. The remaining 140 Psalms received small miniatures in the borders, usually illustrating their opening verse or main theme.
Christ enthroned with the Virgin and St John the Baptist
Christ is shown as Judge, with the Evangelists’ symbols in the corner medallions of the frame. The Virgin and St John the Baptist intercede with him for the salvation of humankind. This Byzantine scene, known as the Deësis, would have reached the Veneto from Constantinople. The Gaibana Master incorporated it into the Beatus initial for Psalm 1 (fol. 23v). The artist responsible for this miniature, Hand G, adopted it for his composition on fol. 115v.