Similar
Boredom ('Enuie') - Public domain medieval manuscript
Bodleian Libraries, Le Roman de la Rose 112r
Initial L: Gillion and His Companion Hertan Riding to Rescue the Sultan
King from BL Hargrave 274, f. 118v
Image from BL YT 10, f. 37 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Psalterium-Horae. (46251793)
Battle in Libya from BL Royal 17 F II, f. 219
Lothaire and Louis from BL Royal 16 G VI, f. 257v
John, figure-initial
Related
David playing a harp from BL Harley 2804, f. 3v
David penitent from BL Harley 5328, f. 77
David playing a harp from BL YT 23, f. 147
David from BL Harley 745, f. 7 - Public domain medieval manuscript
David penitent from BL Harley 5762, f. 88
David from BL Harley 4664, f. 133
David from BL Harley 2952, f. 165
David penitent from BL Harley 2989, f. 73
David and his harp from BL Harley 1892, f. 32
David playing the harp from BL Harley 7398B, f. 151
Summary
Historiated initial 'B'(eatus) of David playing his harp. Image taken from f. 151 of Breviary, use of Sarum, with a calendar (ff. 145-150v). Written in Latin.
David was a skilled musician and poet, and he played the harp to soothe King Saul when he was tormented by evil spirits. David's musical abilities and his role as a psalmist also led him to be associated with the worship of God and with the expression of devotion and praise. The image of David playing the harp remains a symbol of the connection between music, worship, and devotion in Western tradition.
The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in London. The Harley Manuscripts are part of the larger collection known as the Harley Collection, which was assembled by Robert Harley (1661–1724) and his son Edward Harley (1689–1741). Robert Harley was a prominent English statesman and bibliophile, and he began amassing a vast collection of books and manuscripts in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
The Harley Manuscripts are known for their diversity and include a wide range of texts, including historical chronicles, illuminated manuscripts, legal documents, literary works, and scientific treatises. The collection contains over 7,000 manuscripts, and it is considered one of the most important manuscript collections in the British Library.
The Harley Manuscripts are numbered with the prefix "Harley," followed by a specific manuscript number. Each manuscript in the collection has its own unique content and history, and they cover a broad spectrum of topics and time periods. Some of the manuscripts in the collection are beautifully illuminated, with intricate illustrations and decorations.