Gnadenstuhl Trinity, historiated initial from an Antiphonary, in Latin [southern Germany, late 15th century]

cutting, c.81x85mm, vellum, historiated initial ‘G’, doubtless the Vespers antiphon for the feast of the Trinity, ‘Gloria tibi trinitas equalis ...’, the reverse with part of 2 lines of text and music on four-line red staves (rastrum c.20mm), including part of the following Trinity antiphon ‘[Laus deo patri patriloque prole et tibi] sancte studio per[enni spiritus nostro resonet] ab ore omne per [aevum]’, slightly rubbed, small pigment loss to blue ground

Remarkable for this illumination is the very fine modelling, the subtle sense of space, and the rich colour scheme with intense gold, blue, red and green. Despite these characteristics, it is difficult to localise the artist. It is a curious fact that many medieval representations of the so-called ‘Gnadenstuhl Trinity', as here, lack the Dove of the Holy Spirit.

From the same manuscript as the following lot.