The Macclesfield Psalter: .. a Window into the World of Late Medieval England [Hardcover]

The Fitzwilliam Museum (Author), Stella Panayotova (Illustrator), Andrew Morris (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2005

The first reproduction of this exquisite illuminated manuscript that brings medieval ways, beliefs, and thought to life.

Discoveries of real artistic treasures are exceptionally rare. The Macclesfield Psalter (c. 1335), a jewel of manuscript painting, was virtually unknown before its sale by Sotheby's in 2004.

The manuscript offers a window into the medieval world, an intimate view of the faith, sentiments, prejudices, follies, and aspirations of medieval people. Doctors, minstrels, mummers, farmers, dancers, jesters, and beggars mingle on the pages as they would have done on the streets of a busy town. And the marginal imagery tempts the viewer to leave the confines of the prayer book and enter a wonderland of literary conceits, visions, and fables, with naked wild men, a dog dressed as a bishop, or a giant fish swimming across a page.

The Macclesfield Psalter is a revealing product of artistic and patronage exchange in the Middle Ages. A complete reproduction of the manuscript at its original size is accompanied by an authoritative text that not only interprets the textual and artistic content but also beguiles the reader through its vivid descriptions and rich insights.

570 color

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stella Panayotova is Keeper of Manuscripts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. She is the editor, with Paul Binski, of The Cambridge Illuminations: Ten Centuries of Book Production in the Medieval West. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 65 pages
• Publisher: Fitzwilliam Museum Enterprises Ltd (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0904454703
• ISBN-13: 978-0904454703
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,007,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars classy and sumptuous illuminated manuscript., August 31, 2009

By 

Ivor E. Zetler (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Macclesfield Psalter (Hardcover)

This renowned and sumptuous book of hours was recently discovered in the library of the Earl of Macclesfield. It was made in East Anglia in the second quarter of the 14th century. This volume reproduces all the existing folios of the psalter as well as introductory text concerning its background and contents.

The main contents (folios 9R-207V) of the psalter contains psalms from the Old Testament (as would be expected!). The standard set of 10 canticles follow the psalms. There are no translations supplied. Detailed enlargements of some of the more outstanding illustrations are also presented.

So what does this psalter look like? Most of the pages contain 16 lines of text; this would be the least interesting aspect to the modern viewer. The true attractions are the decorative aspects of the marginalia on the left side of each page. These sometime extend to the under and upper aspect of the writing.

To quote from the introductory text: "We observe the wondrous hybrids flow out of, and back into, the lush foliage, metamorphose from beast into human or from male into female, blend with one another, devour themselves, grow several heads at once, and exchange hands for feet, noses for tails or heads for bottoms". Examination of these endlessly fascinating and often amusing details is, in my opinion, the most interesting and satisfying aspect of this psalter.

I must warn the prospective purchaser of one negative aspect of this manuscript. Due to its age and less than ideal upkeep and storage, there is significant shadowing of the marginalia of one side of the page on to the other. This is presumably due to running of the pigment (I proffer my opinion as a definite non expert in this area!) This staining is not unusual in older manuscripts but it is reasonably marked in this case. It is not however bad enough to spoil the appreciation this glorious creation.

The reproductions and printing quality are excellent with the colors (particularly the gold) seeming very realistic. This classy book is strongly recommended to anyone with an interest in illuminated manuscripts.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, June 12, 2009

By 

Samuel Adams "Kiwi" (Sydney) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Macclesfield Psalter (Hardcover)

This is an outstanding book. The Macclesfield Psalter is a spectacular medieval manuscript--colourful, detailed, filled with all the variety you would expect in such a work. Stella Panayotova provides readers with a full-sized colour reproduction of the whole manuscript, on heavy paper. I have never seen anything like it. This book is so beautiful, I'm determined to learn to read Latin, so I can follow the manuscript's text. I suggest that anyone who cherishes medieval English culture, and beautiful works of art, will love this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic - why aren't there more like this one?, September 25, 2010

By 

EIL - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Macclesfield Psalter (Hardcover)

This book is simply beautiful. The presentation (including case, cover, & contents) are simply wonderful. The introduction to the Psalter is a brilliant and detailed discussion of the images and texts in the context of the period. And having the complete series of images is so worthwhile. Why can't there be more reproductions of the illuminated texts like this one?