Macclesfield Psalter

Macclesfield Psalter

All 504 pages of this small masterpiece of English Gothic illumination are richly adorned by masterful miniatures and historiated initials with shimmering gold or patterned backgrounds, strange and fascinating drolleries and animals in the margins, and vegetal borders with interlaced tendrils. Originating ca. 1330–40 in East Anglia, probably Norwich, this splendid Psalter was only recently rediscovered after centuries of neglect as just another codex in the library of Shirburn Castle, former seat of the Earls of Macclesfield. The image program was designed with the greatest care by the unknown artists responsible for it, making it a particularly refined example of the already impressive English Psalters produced during this period.

Rediscovered After Centuries

After laying unrecognized on a dusty shelf in the library of Shirburn Castle for centuries, the Macclesfield Psalter was discovered as the library was being catalogued for sale and was subsequently put up for auction in 2004. Although the Getty Museum in California initially had the winning bid of £1.7 million, the Psalter was banned from being exported and Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum was able to match the bid and keep the Psalter in England with an £860,000 contribution from the UK Government's National Heritage Memorial Fund. After being restored and rebound, the Psalter first went on public display in 2008 and continues to be a highlight of the library’s collection today.

An East Anglian Masterpiece

The Macclesfield Psalter is a fine example of the central tradition of manuscripts from East Anglia, especially with regard to its masterful drolleries. These include fanciful creatures, hybrids, and bawdy motifs that may seem odd to the modern beholder; however, their meanings would have not only been obviously referential to its intended medieval audience but would have served as signposts that would help the reader navigate the text. Therefore, these were not randomly inserted images but were carefully selected with respect to the texts they accompany. The humorous nature of these bas-de-page scenes is considered to be a hallmark of East Anglian illumination.

A Coveted Work of Art

This magnificent manuscript has passed through many hands, which is evident from the various coats of arms that have been erased and replaced over the centuries. Although the evidence has long been lost, it is theorized that the original patron may have been John de Warenne (1286–1347), 7th Earl of Surrey and the Dominican friar who appears throughout the manuscript may have been his confessor and may have also overseen the creation of the Psalter. There are also other signs of the manuscripts frequent use before it became hidden among the stacks of the Macclesfield Library, e.g. the Devil’s face has been scratched away on one page by a former owner who was offended by his terrifying visage. Aside from the Book of Psalms, the manuscript also contains a calendar, canticles, a litany with collects, the Office of the Dead, a confession prayer, and six prayers to Christ, all attesting to its intended personal use.