17 February 2015
Re-use of images on the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts
Many of our readers will already be familiar with our Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts, a resource which enables you to search by shelfmark, keyword, or date, as well as by more advanced fields such as language and provenance. We thought it was about time to give a reminder that all images on the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts are available for download and re-use under a Creative Commons licence. Please respect our terms and conditions. A cause for much rejoicing, we’re sure you’ll agree, and to celebrate, here are some triumphant trumpeters, all found through the search function on the Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts!
Harley MS 2433, f 82r. Detail of a lion playing a trumpet, from the right margin of the folio. Netherlands, S. (Ghent-Tournai area), 2nd quarter of the 15th century.
Add MS 26933, f 45v. Detail of an initial-word panel with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing, accompanied with a bearded hybrid blowing a trumpet and carrying a shield with a fleur-de-lis, in the outer margin. Spain or Italy, 15th century.
Royal MS 2 A XVI, f 98v. Detail of a miniature of musicians with a tabor, three-hole pipe, trumpet, harp and dulcimer, at the beginning of Psalm 80. England, S. E. (London), c. 1540-1541.
Royal MS 2 B VII, f 194r. Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a donkey playing a trumpet and a cat beating a tabor. England (London/Westminster or East Anglia?), between 1310 and 1320.
Royal MS 3 D VI, f 234r. Detail of a miniature of a rabbit with a trumpet, from the border of the folio. England, S. (London?), between 1283 and 1300.
- Cillian O'Hogan
A taxonomy issue, requiring a minor correction to the caption to the Royal MS 2 A XVI, f 98v. Detail of a miniature of musicians with a drum, flute-a-bec, trumpet, harp and dulcimer, at the beginning of Psalm 80.
The instrument described as a flute-a-bec, though indeed equipped with the 'bec' in question is a flute only in a generic sense. It is properly described as a three-hole pipe, and is invariably described as being played in company with a tabor (of whatever size) one of which (rather than a drum) can be seen hanging from the wrist of the player.