Leaf from a Book of Hours with an Historiated Initial ‘C’ showing a Choir Singing
Unknown Artist
Leaf with an Historiated Initial ‘C’ showing a Choir Singing from the Book of Hours of Domenico della Rovere, fol. 70r
Probably Turin, about 1480
Pigments, gilding and ink on vellum
Barber Institute of Fine Arts (No. 69.7)
This historiated initial shows a small choir of clerics in song. They sing from a choir book in an act of communal devotion, using their voice as a medium of adoration. The acoustics of the church, as depicted in the illumination, would have enhanced the sound of singing to create rich and wide-reaching vocals.
As singing is a purposeful act, song becomes an effective way of connecting to the divine for faiths worldwide. The way in which the singers position themselves around the book probably represents the manner which the singers would have performed together daily for the spiritual benefit of the patron of this Book, Cardinal Domenico della Rovere (for whom, see Leaf from a Book of Hours with a Family Tree).
The miniature is accompanied by the Latin phrase ‘Sing unto the Lord a new song’, which demonstrates the idea that song and music is a gift. This would have resonated with the first owner and presumed patron of the Book, Cardinal Domenico della Rovere (1442-1501), later Bishop of Turin, a known patron of the arts. The depiction reflects the widespread tradition to introduce this most musical of psalms (Psalm 98) with a depiction of singing. The singers are depicted in the style of Vincenzo Foppa (1430-1515), a successful Milanese artist of the later fifteenth century. This miniature therefore blends Domenico’s religious profession and his passion for art through musical scenes in his personal devotional book.