Some months ago I was asked by Lord Cormack, chairman of the Historic Lincoln Trust, to create a series of paintings based directly on images from the Luttrell Psalter. The British Library has loaned this magnificent fourteenth century manuscript to Lincoln for the summer so that it can be displayed as part of Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition.
Here is my series in its entirety. All are painted in egg tempera with, as far as is possible, historically accurate pigments. With the exception of Archers, all are gilded with 24 carat gold leaf. The majority will be on sale over the summer in conjunction with the exhibition, although I believe one is to be used as a presentation piece.
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- Illuminated E – hand tooled 24 carat gold and egg tempera.
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- Illuminated M – 24 carat gold and egg tempera
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- Illuminated C – 24 carat gold and egg tempera
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- Illuminated B with pigs, acorns and an oak tree. 24 carat gold leaf and egg tempera.
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- Archers, egg tempera
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- Lion Dragon with a broad-brimmed hat! 24 carat gold on manuscript gesso, egg tempera.
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- Illuminated foliate N – 24 carat gold and egg tempera
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- Sir Geoffrey Luttrell – 24 carat gold leaf, shell gold, shell palladium, egg tempera with natural pigments.
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- Illuminated D. 24 carat gold leaf, shell gold and egg tempera.
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- ‘D’ is for Dragon. Luttrell Psalter detail, 24 carat gold and egg tempera.
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- Luttrell Psalter. Annunciation to the Shepherds. 24 carat gold leaf and egg tempera.
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- Illuminated S – 24 carat gold and egg tempera.
The exhibition is opened by H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester next Friday. I’m looking forward to both the event and seeing the superb artworks loaned from national institutions and Lincolnshire country houses. Review to follow!