Details
A Saint. LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL "R" CUT FROM AN ANTIPHONAL ON VELLUM. [Northern Italy, ca. 1400].
135 x 125 mm. (4 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.), cut irregularly around gold field and foliate extensions, burnished gold ground decorated with punches, surrounding the initial in red, with orange, yellow and green extensions, modelled in white, including a grotesque face. Within, on a blue ground with white tracery, the saint in a yellow garment and green cloak lined in purple, shown three-quarter length in a gesture of prayer. On verso, a mid-line fragment of text and music, with square neumes on four-line red staves. Extremities clipped, slight abrasion of pigment. Matted and framed.
135 x 125 mm. (4 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.), cut irregularly around gold field and foliate extensions, burnished gold ground decorated with punches, surrounding the initial in red, with orange, yellow and green extensions, modelled in white, including a grotesque face. Within, on a blue ground with white tracery, the saint in a yellow garment and green cloak lined in purple, shown three-quarter length in a gesture of prayer. On verso, a mid-line fragment of text and music, with square neumes on four-line red staves. Extremities clipped, slight abrasion of pigment. Matted and framed.