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Fragment from a Choir Book

Fragment from a Choir Book

Culture: Spanish

Collected by: Otto F. Ege (American, 1888 - 1951)

Date: 1562
Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 22 x 15 3/4 in. (55.9 x 40 cm)
Framed: 27 1/4 x 21 x 1 in. (69.2 x 53.3 x 2.5 cm)
Credit Line:Museum Purchase
Object number: 1923.26.1

In 1562, twelve handwritten medieval choir books were commissioned for use at the Spanish abbey of the Monasterio de San Jerónimo (Monastery of the Order of San Jerome) in Alcala la Real in the Archdiocese of Granada. They are both Spanish and Moorish in style, displaying fine penwork initials with border elements reminiscent of Islamic tiling, the result of the mingling of Christian and Muslim influences on the Iberian Peninsula.

Note the similarities between the design in this fragment and these samples of Islamic tilework.

In Collection(s)