Werden Psalter

Werden Psalter – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Ms. theol. lat. fol. 358 – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)

Benedictine abbey of Werden (Germany) β€” After 1029

The Psalms in gold, silver and purple: impressive miniatures alongside magnificent incipit pages and initials as the pinnacle of the Werden scriptorium and a link between late Carolingian and Romanesque book illumination

  1. A highlight of 11th century illumination from the scriptorium of Werden Abbey, situated on the Ruhr River

  2. Wonderful initials precede all 150 Psalms and outstanding miniatures adorn the manuscript

  3. This unrivalled and perfectly harmonious work bridges the late-Carolingian and Romanesque styles

Werden Psalter

Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (2)
Description
Werden Psalter

Werden Abbey on the Ruhr River was founded ca. 800 by St. Liudger. It flourished during the 11th century and acquired a self-confidence to which the splendor of the Werden Psalter bears fascinating witness: it was never intended for liturgical use but was intended for a rich and highly placed personality. The author's picture shows David in his double function as the overpowering King of Israel and as the sensitive author of the Psalms. The play of delightful contrasts pervades this high point of 11th century illumination. The dignified seriousness, which is also expressed by the elegant late Carolingian minuscule, is in creative tension with the fanciful initial ornamentation. There are wonderful initials and Romanesque miniatures of the highest artistry before each of the 150 Psalms. Thus, this splendid Psalter is an important link between the late Carolingian and Romanesque styles.

Werden Psalter

The Werden Psalter belongs to the most significant and widely known deluxe medieval manuscripts kept in the Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz of Berlin. It is also called the β€œLuxury Psalter” because of its lavish decoration and bears splendid testimony to medieval illumination. The codex was made at Werden where Saint Liudger, Bishop of MΓΌnster, had founded an abbey around the year 800. This Benedictine abbey had its heyday in the 11th century and the Werden Psalter may be looked upon as the artistic expression of a proud monastery. The manuscript contains a psalter in an unusual form of text. The contents and artistic decoration of the Werden Psalter are extremely rich and remarkable in all aspects. Its outstanding miniatures, which have always been an object of admiration, its marvelous initials of great artistic importance with respect to illumination, the ornamental pages and titles, as well as the script are all important features of this unrivalled and perfectly harmonious work.

The Extravagant Splendor of a Sumptuous Psalter

The series of psalms contained in the book is preceded by the author’s portrait depicting the biblical King David in his two functions, as sovereign and as a composer of the Psalms (fol. 1v). This topic returns in two further episodes with the slaying of Goliath on fol. 74r and the presentation of his head to King Saul. The third full-page miniature shows Christ having won the fight against the dragon and the lion (fol. 64r). The strictly formal, symmetrical structure and balanced coloring of the title illustrations convey a feeling of peace and dignified sobriety, thus forming a charming contrast to the elaborate ornamental decoration of initials.

Gold and Silver Initials

The initial pages following the miniature pages introduce each subsequent Psalm with gold and silver tendrils, initials set against a purple background, as well as gold and silver initials. Furthermore, all 150 psalms as well as the subsequent cantica start with large initials composed of gold and silver tendrils. They are complete with particularly elaborate ornamental lines on a purple field with alternating gold and silver majuscules. The text is written without paragraphs in an even, elegant late Carolingian minuscule script; the verse incipits are marked with small purple squares containing gold and silver letters. A total of 190 interlaced initials consist of geometrically arranged bands, many of them enriched with floral elements. Architecture, dragons, birds, dogs, and depictions of humans embellish the bands in the ornamental letters, making them resourceful miniatures in their own right. They all lend the work an overall impression of invaluable luxury, which only a few other manuscripts may boast.

Text and Calendar

The Werden Psalter contains the text of the Psalterium Romanum**, an old Latin text which hardly differs from the Vulgate version, as well as related old Latin cantica and several prayers. The manuscript concludes with a comprehensive calendar and two calculation tables for the feast of Easter and the moon dates required for this purpose. The *Werden Psalter is no doubt a luxury psalter that was produced for a high-ranking and wealthy individual rather than serving liturgical purposes. Both the text and decorative apparatus of the book support this assumption.

The Binding

The manuscript is protected by a lavishly ornate leather binding which is not the original but was made in the second half of the 16th century. It was decorated using roulettes, i.e. metal rolls which were heated up before rolling them onto the humid leather. In a frame appear the inscribed busts of Fortitudo (Courage), Prudentia (Prudence), and Iustitia (Justice), as well as a fourth virtue Lucrecia, instead of Temperantia (Moderation) as one would expect.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Werdener Psalter
Size / Format
237 pages / 25.4 Γ— 17.5 cm
Origin
Germany
Date
After 1029
Style
Language
Illustrations
6 full-page miniatures and ornaments, 190 larger mostly golden and silver initial letters

Available facsimile editions:
Werden Psalter – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Ms. theol. lat. fol. 358 – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)
Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1979
Limited Edition: 765 copies

Werden Psalter – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Ms. theol. lat. fol. 358 – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)
Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1979
Limited Edition: 85 copies
Detail Picture

Werden Psalter

Incipit Page: Beatus Vir

This β€œB” initial is a fine specimen of Romanesque art and introduces the phrase Beatus vir or β€œBlessed is the man”, which are the opening words of the Book of Psalms in Latin. Only the finest materials were used for the creation of this incipit page: rich pigments, gold leaf, and a purple dyed background. The black lettering is actually silver that has oxidized over the centuries. King David, the author of the Psalms, is depicted working in both registers of this fine historiated initial.

Werden Psalter – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Ms. theol. lat. fol. 358 – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)
Single Page

Werden Psalter

Portrait of King David

The opening page of this perfectly harmonious work of Romanesque illumination depicts the reputed author of the Psalms, King David. He is depicted in his two functions in this miniature, which is split into two registers: above we see David the ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, below we see him as the composer of the Psalms.

Like the rest of the miniatures in the manuscript, this composition is distinguished by its symmetrical structure, balanced color palette, and its overall sense of peace and dignified sobriety. The rich colors, purple in particular, contrast wonderfully with the gold leaf of the frame and highlights the scene’s imagery. Entertainers ranging from musicians to jugglers are depicted in small medallions at the frame’s corners.

Werden Psalter – Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Ms. theol. lat. fol. 358 – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Der Werdener Psalter (Standard Edition)

Publisher: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1979
Limited Edition: 765 copies
Binding: Leather, true copy of the original binding. All folios are cut according to the original.
Commentary: 1 volume (54 pages) by Hermann Knaus
Language: German

The scholarly commentary by Hermann Knaus provides a comprehensive description of the Werden Psalter. It not only discusses the art historical significance of its miniatures and decoration but also explains the contents of the work and analyses the dating and localisation of the manuscript.
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) All folios are cut according to the original.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

#2 Der Werdener Psalter (De Luxe Edition)

Publisher: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA) – Graz, 1979
Limited Edition: 85 copies
Binding: Leather, true copy of the original binding. All folios are cut according to the original. Gold parts by hand with real gold leaf.
Commentary: 1 volume (54 pages) by Hermann Knaus
Language: German

The scholarly commentary by Hermann Knaus provides a comprehensive description of the Werden Psalter. It not only discusses the art historical significance of its miniatures and decoration but also explains the contents of the work and analyses the dating and localisation of the manuscript.
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) All folios are cut according to the original.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
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