Psalter from a Psalter-Hours

This Psalter, dating to the last quarter of the thirteenth century, was made in French Flanders for use in the diocese of Metz. Originally part of a Psalter-Hours, the two parts of the book were separated long ago and bound separately in the eighteenth century. The Hours half has recently been identified by François Avril as belonging to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, where it is n.a. Lat. 915. The Psalter component is heavily decorated, containing historiated initials as well as borders and line fillers full of hybrid creatures and grotesques.

Inscription

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Diocese of Metz, individual affiliated with Franciscan or Dominican house (?), 1275-1300. 'Deberud[?]t', 17th century [1]. Léon Gruel and Edmond Engelmann, Paris, late 19th-early 20th century [2]; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1903 [3]; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] Name inscribed in lower margins, fols. 68v and 69r
[2] Their bookplate on front pastedown, inscribed "No 134"
[3] Invoice Walters archives