Reproduction of the Dragon and the Rider, forming the opening letter S for Psalm 68 in Ms. Ludwig VIII (fol. 76) from the Getty Museum Collection. This manuscript was probably made in Würzburg, Germany around 1240–1250. The background consists of 24 karat gold leaf, the painting itself of white egg tempera and various mineral pigments.

The Getty Museum describes this initial S to be the shape of a griffin. However, I disagree with this assessment and propose it is a dragon when compared with similar imagery.

Initial S: A Dragon and Rider

This page shows a fearsome dragon savagely fighting with other creatures. For instance, we see a dog, a smaller dragon and two other unidentifiable monsters. Similarly, a man heroically wrestles the dragon in the middle, attempting to subdue the beast. Meanwhile his clothes vigorously twist around, creating the impression that the dragon ‘moves’ across the page. Moreover, the artist(s) of this manuscript have done an excellent job transforming the image of the dragon into the letter S. As such, it starts the sentence which coincides with the first verse of Psalm 68:

“Salvum me fac Deus quoniam intraverunt aquae usque ad animam meam” meaning “Save me, O God, for the waters have entered, even unto my soul.”

Virgo Sacrata – Psalm 68:2

It is not common within a Psalter for every psalm to start with a full page miniature. Specifically, in this manuscript, the full page miniature indicates a division of the text within. Psalms, recited on a weekly basis according to a set program — called the liturgy of the Divine Office in Christian liturgical practice — indicate the start of a new division, which help a reader find the correct psalm in the manuscript.