The New Testament, The Book of Common Prayer 1631 - 1641

Robert Barker's embroidered binding for "The New Testament, The Book of Common Prayer" features an intriguing figure, possibly King David, embracing a harp against a verdant landscape. The harp, a symbol of divine worship and emotional expression, echoes through antiquity. We see it in ancient Sumerian lyres, emblems of courtly life, and later in Irish heraldry, representing national identity. The very act of embracing the harp is telling: consider Orpheus, whose lyre charmed even the gods. Here, the gesture conveys a deep connection to music as a conduit for spiritual and emotional release. But consider, too, the ever-present dance between the sacred and the profane. The grotesque masks adorning the corners hint at the darker, chaotic forces that art and music seek to reconcile. It is a reminder that even in devotion, the subconscious lurks, shaping our perceptions and experiences. Ultimately, the embroidered binding reflects a continuous, almost cyclical journey. Symbols like the harp evolve and resurface, carrying echoes of past meanings while adapting to new cultural landscapes.