Manuscript Illumination with Singing Monks in an Initial D, from a Psalter
1501–2
Medium
Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment
Dimensions
Overall: 9 1/16 x 7 in. (23 x 17.8 cm) Illumination: 4 x 4 1/8 in. (10.2 x 10.5 cm) Mat size: 19 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (48.9 x 36.2 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.56.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within the pages of a Psalter—a devotional book of Psalms—this exquisite manuscript illumination by Girolamo dai Lib captures a joyful moment of monastic song. Created in Verona around 1501–2, the work features singing monks crammed into the curving form of an initial "D," their open mouths and raised hands evoking the harmonious chants of liturgical worship. Dai Libri, a master illuminator from the Italian Renaissance, bridged medieval traditions with emerging Renaissance naturalism, infusing his miniatures with vibrant life. Crafted in tempera, ink, and gold on parchment, the 4 x 4⅛...