Art Funded by you

The Luttrell Psalter

Unknown artist, c1320-1340

The money to buy The Luttrell Psalter came from the prominent American banker John Pierpont Morgan who gave an interest free loan to the British Museum for a year.

If the Museum failed to repay the loan, the manuscript would become part of his own collection. The Psalms contain illustrations of everyday life of medieval England. The right hand margin of the right-hand page depicts the artist's family arms. Fortunately, with the Art Fund's assistance, the British Museum was able to keep this rare piece of work in their collection.

More information

Title of artwork, date

The Luttrell Psalter, c1320-1340

Date supported

1929

Medium and material

Illuminated manuscript on vellum

Dimensions

36 x 24.5 cm

Grant

7500

Total cost

31500

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