ticketsMember | Make a donation

Manuscript Leaf with King David in an Initial I, from a Psalter

early 15th century
Not on view
This intensely colored illumination, by an unknown artist for an unknown commission, is a singularly beautiful evocation of David as author of the 150 psalms. Quill in hand, he cocks his head to listen to the voice of God, whose face appears in the clouds. The image serves as a counterpoint to the text, in which David implores: "Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Manuscript Leaf with King David in an Initial I, from a Psalter
  • Date: early 15th century
  • Culture: North Italian
  • Medium: Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment
  • Dimensions: 18 1/8 x 13 13/16in. (46 x 35.1cm)
    Other (Stave Height): 1 5/16in. (3.3cm)
    Mat: 28 × 22 in. (71.1 × 55.9 cm)
  • Classification: Manuscripts and Illuminations
  • Credit Line: Gift of Miss Alice M. Dike, in memory of her father, Henry A. Dike, 1928
  • Object Number: 28.225.65
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Church Bell, Master Marcus Venetian, Bronze, North Italian
Church Bell
Master Marcus
ca. 1411
Chest with Relief Figures of Saints Sebastian and Blaise, Pine, iron mounts, Italian
Chest with Relief Figures of Saints Sebastian and Blaise
Italian
early 16th century
Fork, Iron, copper alloy, partially gilt, silver and niello, Italian
Fork
Italian
15th century
Manuscript Leaf with the Trinity in an Initial T, from an Antiphonary, Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius, Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment, Italian
Manuscript Leaf with the Trinity in an Initial T, from an Antiphonary
Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius
second half 15th century
Manuscript Leaf with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist in an Initial M, from an Antiphonary, Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius, Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment, Italian
Manuscript Leaf with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist in an Initial M, from an Antiphonary
Master of the Riccardiana Lactantius
second half 15th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.