The Melisende Psalter (BL Egerton MS 1139)

The Adoration of the Magi, f. 2v.

Colloquial name(s): The Melisende Psalter

Official name(s): British Library Egerton MS 1139

Date: 1131-43 (source)

Origin: Jerusalem, Eastern Mediterranean (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

This psalter is thought to have been made for Melisende (b. 1105, d. 1161), Queen of Jerusalem and wife of Fulk, Count of Anjou, between the death of her father Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, (d. 1131) and the death of her husband (d. 1143) (source). It was made by Basilius (as indicated by the inscription 'Basilius me fecit' on f. 12v) in the monastery of the Holy Sepulchre (source).  Melisende's parents, Baldwin II (r. 1118-31) and Queen Morphia (d. 1126/27) are mentioned in the calendar on 21st August and 1st October, respectively, but Fulk's obit is not included suggesting he was not dead when the manuscript was produced (source). However, the inscription of 'Herodius' on the lower ivory cover is suggested to be a reference to Fulk as the bird herodius was used synonymously with 'fulica' (meaning coot) - the French vernacular for coot is 'foulque' (source).

The manuscript contains several illustrations including 24 full-page colour-and-gold miniatures in the prefatory cycle of the life of Christ (ff. 1r-12v), 9 half-page colour-and-gold miniatures among the prayers dedicated to the Virgin and saints (ff. 202v-211r), 12 colour-and-gold calendar roundels (ff. 13v-19r), 1 full-page ink-on-gold historiated initial (f. 23v) and 7 large ink-on-gold initials at the principal divisions of the Psalms (source).

Basic descriptions of the illustrations are provided with the British Library along with the facsimile.