Holding institution title: W.26, Claricia Psalter, Latin (1175-1225 CE, Augsburg, Germany)
Holding institution classification: Psalter
Holding institution location: Baltimore, MD
URL: https://thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W26/description.html
URL2: https://manuscripts.thewalters.org/viewer.php?id=W.26#page/1/mode/2up
Digitization status: Digitized
Date: 1175-1225
Language(s): Latin
Use: Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg, Germany
Country of production: Germany
City or region of production: Augsburg
Illumination contents: Signs of the Zodiac, The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Saints Peter and Paul (?), John Baptizing Christ, Virgin and Child Enthroned, “Claricia” Swinging on inial Q, Holy Bishop Nicholas, Orant Nun in inial D, St. Michael and the Dragon, Saints Ulrich and Afra (?)
Text contents: Charter (fifteenth-century?) used as front pastedown, Litany (added in the fifteenth century), Petitions (added in the fifteenth century), Calendar, Psalter, Canticles, Magnificat (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Office of the Dead (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Prayers (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Meditation on the Annunciation (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Salve Regina (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Prayers (added in the mid-thirteenth century), Charter (back pastedown)
Hours intercalated?:
Personalization: This Psalter was made for, and most likely by, a group of Benedictine nuns at the abbey of saints Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg, Germany. Although the Psalter itself, along with its calendar, dates to the late twelfth or early thirteenth century, a number of texts and prayers were added in the mid thirteenth century. Most striking about the manuscript are its illuminations, which include a prefatory cycle, full-page miniatures, and historiated initials. While all are Romanesque in style, they vary greatly in quality and technique, and three or four different artists seem to have been at work. The Claricia Psalter takes its name from one of the initials, which depicts a young girl in secular dress swinging from the initial “Q,” who has “Claricia” written around her head. It has been suggested that the image represents a novice artist who signed her work, but there are many other theories, and none are certain.
Scribe: Made for, and likely by, a group of Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg, Germany.
Illuminator: Made for, and likely by, a group of Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg, Germany. Illuminations, which include a prefatory cycle, full-page miniatures, and historiated initials all in the Romanesque style, vary greatly in quality and technique. Three or four different artists seem to have been at work.
Patron: Made for, and likely by, a group of Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg, Germany.
Materials: Parchment of medium thickness, well prepared but very worn from use
Binding original?: No
Binding description: Original (or possibly thirteenth- or fourteenth-century) beech boards covered by much-abraded leather with five metal bosses on upper and lower boards; remains of leather straps visible; thirteenth- or fourteenth-century charters used as pastedowns on both boards (lower board pastedown now numbered as final folio)
Folio height (in centimeters): 22.8
Folio width (in centimeters): 15
