Frontspiece of Psalter (CCCC MS 391, p. 24)
The so-called Portiforium of Saint Wulfstan is a stout one-volume portable compendium of a Psalter and a Breviary, for daily use by an eleventh-century bishop travelling around his diocese. Both historical tradition and internal evidence suggest that the manuscript was made in Worcester for Saint Wulfstan (c. 1008-1095), Bishop of Worcester 1062-95. The frontispiece of the psalter shows King David as a harpist, playing music on a seven-stringed Anglo-Saxon harp. Wulfstan was canonised by Innocent III in 1203, and his feast day is 19 January. He is the patron saint of vegetarians.
What a beautiful illumination! King David’s throne is so quirky. I could see an interior designer using the bolster cushion in a sumptuous interior today. I love his cross garters and stylish shoes – plus the Mary Quant flower motif scattered over the picture. As a vegetarian, I’m going to look up St Wulfstan!