Leaf 4 from an antiphonal fragment

Italian 13th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a photograph of a page from a medieval music manuscript. The page features musical notations on a five-line staff with square notation for Gregorian chant. The notes are in dark ink, and the staff lines are in red ink. The text between the notations is in Latin with a blackletter script. Large decorative initials in blue and red with intricate designs extend into the surrounding space. The manuscript is on vellum or parchment, giving a sense of antiquity and classical artistry associated with religious music.