The Woodson Research Center recently added 2 illuminated manuscript leaves to its collections. The “Beatus” leaf from a Latin psalter has a beautiful historiated initial B showing scenes from the life of King David and with a decorative border including a hunting scene. The text is from Psalm 1:1-2:8. The upper compartment of the initial contains of miniature of King David harping in his palace and the lower compartment shows the young David about to behead the giant Goliath.
The second leaf is also from a Latin Bible with an illuminated initial showing King Ahasuerus, Esther, and Mordecai all connected by a hangman’s rope. The text is from the opening through the first three chapters of Esther. Both leaves are dated around the late-13th century.
