Luttrell-Psalter

The Luttrell Psalter is an illuminated manuscript that was created 1325-1335 by unknown writers and illustrators. It was designed by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell († 1345 ), a wealthy English landowner Irnham, Lincolnshire commissioned. The Psalter is situated in the holdings of the British Library in London with the signature add. MS 42130th

The book contains not only the beginning of a 13r Psalms Canticum on 1r, 259v, 283v, and a requiem for the dead an antiphon ( 295r ). The individual pages vary in the quality of the illustrations, but most are richly illustrated and decorated. The figures show saints, biblical scenes, and scenes of everyday life such as rural life, agriculture, kitchen scenes, health care, bickering, playing musicians etc. The Psalter is considered one of the most comprehensive image sources everyday rural life of medieval England.

Some illustrations show unusual chimeras figures with human and animal attributes. The importance of many of these images remain obscure, however, some of these chimeras have a direct relation to the adjacent text. They help to develop the symbolism of stone sculptures in churches from the time of the book.

The British Library in 2006 published a facsimile of the Luttrell Psalter.

The Client

The acquisition elaborate illuminated manuscripts was both an expression of their own piety, as well as demonstration of their own wealth and power of medieval kings and nobles. Sir Geoffrey Luttrell (1276-1345) was a knight and baron. His family relations and military successes had given him the highest reputation. The Psalter was given by his family in 1332 in order, completion took more than 10 years.