Arundel MS 83, ff 117r-135v

The 'De Lisle Psalter' includes:

ff. 117r-122v: Calendar, use of Sarum.

ff. 123r-135: Prefatory material including the Speculum theologie, a collection of theological diagrams excerpted from several sources, probably compiled by Johannes Metensis (John of Metz), a Franciscan preacher and follower of Bonaventura, active in Paris around 1273. This material was originally bound in a different order and likely designed to precede a Psalter which does not survive.

Decoration: 13 moral, devotional, and theological diagrams in colours and gold (ff. 123v, 125v, 126r, 126v, 127r, 127v, 128r, 128v, 129r, 129v, 130v, 131r, 135r). 3 full-page miniatures of the Life of Christ, divided in three registers containing each two quadrolobed miniatures in colours and gold (ff. 124r, 124v, 125r); 2 full page miniatures (ff. 131v-132r). 1 half-page miniatures in colours and gold (f. 127r). 5 full-page miniatures (later addition), in colours and gold (ff. 130r, 130v, 133v, 134r, 134v). Large decorated initials with foliate extensions into the margins, in colours and gold. Small initials in gold with purple pen-flourishing or in blue with red pen-flourishing.

The prefatory material includes:

f. 123v: A table of spheres, based on the introduction to John of Peckham, Tractatus de sphera.

f. 124r: The Nativity; the Annunciation to the Shepherds; the Circumcision; the Adoration of the Magi; the Flight into Egypt.

f. 124v: The Massacre of the Innocents; the Wedding at Cana, the Raising of Lazarus; the Entry into Jerusalem; the Last Supper; the Betrayal of Christ.

f. 125r: Christ before Pilate; the Mocking of Christ; Christ before Herod; the Blindfolding of Christ; The Flagellation; Christ bearing the Cross.

f. 125v: The Tree of Life, based on Bonaventura, Lignum vitae.

f. 126r: The Wheel of the Twelve Stages of Human Life.

f. 126v: The Wheel of the Ten Ages of Man.

f. 127r: A poem in Anglo-Norman French, incipit: 'Compaynouns ueez ceo ke ieo uoy', with a miniature of the Three Living and the Three Dead.

f. 127v: A Table of the Ten Commandments.

f. 128r: A Table of the Twelve Articles of Faith.

f. 128v: The Tree of Vices.

f. 129r: The Tree of Virtues.

f. 129v: The Wheel of the Seven Petitions of the Lord's Prayer.

f. 130r: Christ in Majesty.

f. 130v: A diagram of a 'cherub' with six wings, commonly associated with De sex alis cherubim; this text has been attributed to Alan of Lille, but the earliest manuscript attributions are to Clement of Llanthony (prior of Llanthony and theologian) (on the attribution see d'Alverny, 'Alain de Lille' (1980), p. 27; and Carruthers, who also explores the relationship between the diagram and the text, 'Ars oblivionalis, ars inveniendi' (2009), p. 5). Cf. the diagram on f. 5v.

f. 131r: A table of the Seven Acts of the Passion (unfinished).

f. 131v: The Virgin and Child.

f. 132r: The Crucifixion.

f. 132v: The Descent into Hell; the Deposition from the Cross; the Entombment of Christ; Pilate and the Soldiers.

f. 133r: The Resurrection; the Holy Women at the Tomb; the Noli me Tangere; the Supper at Emmaus.

f. 133v: The Ascension.

f. 134r: Pentecost.

f. 134v: The Coronation of the Virgin.

f. 135r: The Tower of Wisdom (or Turris Sapientiae) attributed to John of Metz.

The illuminations have been attributed to the Madonna Master, named after the facing miniatures of the Virgin and the Crucifixion (ff. 131v-132r, see Sandler, Gothic Manuscripts 1986), except the miniature on f. 123v and three diagrams (ff. 128v, 129r, 135r). A further five full-page miniatures were added to the prefatory program, probably shortly before Robert de Lisle gave the manuscript away in 1339 (ff. 130r, 130v, 133v, 134r, 134v). These miniatures have been attributed to the Majesty Master, named after the miniature on f. 130r.