The Breslau Psalter
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.
Historiated initial E with musicians (Psalm 80)
Illustrating the opening verse of Psalm 80, this initial painted by Hand F shows five musicians playing a variety of instruments: a string instrument, a trumpet and a drum above, a harp and a transverse flute below.