Bute Psalter
Culture: French
Place: Northeastern (illuminated) France Paris (written) France
Date: text and illumination about 1285; additional text and illumination about 1330
Medium: Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment bound between wood boards covered with red velvet
Dimensions: Leaf: 17 × 11.9 cm (6 11/16 × 4 11/16 in.)
Probably made for a noblewoman in the late 1200s, the Bute Psalter is a small prayer book containing all 150 psalms. A number of other additional texts illuminated by an anonymous Parisian painter were added in the mid-1300s. The manuscript's name derives from that of a previous owner, the Marquess of Bute.
A talented and important artist, known as the Bute Master for his work in this book, created the illuminations for the portion of the manuscript dating from the 1200s. He painted 190 historiated initials and numerous marginal drolleries. Instead of giving precedence to the eight major divisions of the psalms as was customary, he devoted a figural scene to every psalm. Furthermore, the illuminations display distinctive, original iconography that may reflect the patron's wishes."
18/197 objects.
source: Bute Psalter
Initial D: Absalom Hanging from a Tree
Initial D: Absalom Hanging from a Tree; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 2v
Initial Q: Herod Embracing Pilate
Initial Q: Herod Embracing Pilate; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 1v
Initial C: A Priest Before an Altar
Initial C: A Priest Before an Altar; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Paris (written), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 8v
Initial U: A Man Clothing a Nude Man
Initial U: A Man Clothing a Nude Man; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Paris (written), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 13v
Initial C: A King Sleeping in a Bed
Initial C: A King Sleeping in a Bed; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 3
Initial V: Abraham Ousting Hagar and Her Son Ishmael
Initial V: Abraham Ousting Hagar and Her Son Ishmael; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Paris (written), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 4
Initial D: David Kneeling in Prayer
Initial D: David Kneeling in Prayer; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Paris (written), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 5
Initial D: Man Working at a Winepress
Initial D: Man Working at a Winepress; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 7v
Initial D: David Confronting a Man Throwing a Stone at Him
Initial D: David Confronting a Man Throwing a Stone at Him; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 6
Initial I: A Man Looking at a Sparrow
Initial I: A Man Looking at a Sparrow; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Paris (written), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 12
Initial D: The Crucifixion
Initial D: The Crucifixion; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 26
Initial D: God Crowning David
Initial D: God Crowning David; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 24v
Initial D: The Harrowing of Hell
Initial D: The Harrowing of Hell; Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290); Northeastern (illuminated), France; illumination about 1270 - 1280; written about 135 - 1375; Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment; Leaf: 17 x 11.9 cm (6 11/16 x 4 11/16 in.); Ms. 46, fol. 29