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The psalter was made for Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (1105-c. 1160), who with her husband Fulk V of Anjou became joint rulers of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1131. It is the finest twelfth-century manuscript to have been made in a Crusader state. An inscription states 'Basilius me fecit' (Basilius made me). In spite of the Greek name, the artist is thought to have trained in a Western shop, although he was obviously influenced by Byzantine art.
The picture shows the Byzantine devotional subject of the Deesis, which consists of Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist.
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