England, probably London, c 1230. Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B11.4, fols xi verso–1 (cat no 39). Image courtesy The Master and Fellows, Trinity College, Cambridge.

The original owner of this psalter, an abbess of the Augustinian canonesses, is represented in the initials for Psalms 101 and 109. The psalms are preceded by a calendar and 10 full-page miniatures with 48 scenes, which include the Old Testament stories of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, and the New Testament account of the life of Christ. The pictures end with the Last Judgement and the Torments of Hell, shown here. The placing of Old and New Testament narrative pictures before the psalms began in the 12th century, and is found in the most luxurious psalters of England, France and Germany in the 13th century. This is a fine example.