Winchester Psalter

Winchester Psalter

Psalter of Henry of Blois, St. Swithun's Psalter

The Winchester Psalter is attributed to Henry of Blois who was the Bishop of Winchester. The psalter contains thirty-eight full-page miniatures portraying scenes from the Old Testament, the Life of the Virgin, Life of Christ, and several scenes covering the Second Coming and Last Judgment. Most miniatures of the manuscript were drawn in watercolor tints against painted backgrounds, which is a special English technique of the 11th-13th century. On the other hand, two miniatures, the Death of the Virgin and the Virgin Enthroned, use different techniques and styles. The two miniatures use Byzantine iconography and style with borders of geometric ornament.

The facsimile is a full-color replication of the Winchester Psalter currently located in the British Library. The luxurious modern binding consists of Indian goatskin and blocked with a 2-colour design by Joe McLaren. This richly embellished facsimile was produced by the Folio Society to be an art object in its own right.

Original MS: Henry of Blois

Facsimile: UNT Special Collections Library, Call Number: ND3357.W5 .H362 2015
Original MS: London, British Library, Cotton MS Nero C IV

New York Graphic Society Ltd.

Facsimile: 2015
Original MS: 12th century

Commentary: Kristine Edmondson Haney

British Library, New York Graphic Society Ltd.

The Luttrell Psalter

32.4 x 22.9 cm, 80 pages

Facsimile: Latin, Anglo Norman
Commentary: English

Psalter

Byzantine iconographic, geometric ornament borders, water-color tints against painted backgrounds.

English, Romanesque, 12th century

Prepared by Doo Wan Kwon