Decorated initial from BL YT 26, f. 7v
Detail of a decorated initial 'P'(rincipium), from Chapter 2 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 7v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Ecclesiastica (History of the Engli... More
Obadiah from BL Harley 2803, f. 272
Detail of an historiated initial 'V'(isio Abdiae) of the prophet Obadiah holding a scroll, at the beginning of Obadiah. Image taken from f. 272 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to... More
Xystus from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 83
Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(e fu) of Xystus before the Emperor Decius. Image taken from f. 83 of Lives of the Saints. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Col... More
Edward III and the Black Prince from BL Royal 20 D X, f. 28
Detail of an historiated initial 'E'(dwardus) of Edward III enthroned giving a charter to the kneeling Black Prince, at the beginning of a collection of documents relating to Black Prince's principality of Aqui... More
Illuminated initial from BL Arundel 490, f. 7
Illuminated 'Channel-style' foliate initial 'H' with naked men 'white lions' or dogs, and animal head terminations. Image taken from f. 7 of Decretum; collections of Alexander III's decretals, with marginal glo... More
Marriage ceremony from BL Royal 10 E IX, f. 195
Detail of a historiated initial 'D'(e) of a marriage ceremony, at the beginning of book 4, De sponsalibus et matrimoniis. Image taken from f. 195 of Decretales, with the Glossa ordinaria. Written in Latin. The... More
White vine initial from BL Harley 3814, f. 21
White vine initial 'Q'(ui) at the beginning of a suffrage to the archangel Raphael. Image taken from f. 21 of Prayer book, including moral texts on the Ten Commandments, Seven Deadly Sins, etc. Written in Latin... More
Historiated initial and bar border from BL Harley 2749, f. 1
Large historiated initial 'E'(go) with Cicero writing and handing a letter to a boy; bar border on either side with foliate decoration, flowers (including sweet pea) and a bird; 2 winged putti supporting an era... More
Coloured initial from BL Harley 2788, f. 2
Coloured initial 'P' in the Prologue. Image taken from f. 2 of Four Gospels (the 'Golden Gospels', 'Harley Golden Gospels'; 'Codex Aureus'), with canon tables (ff. 6v-12), and capitulary (ff. 199-208v). Written... More
Wrestlers from BL Harley 3487, f. 34
Detail of an historiated initial 'T'(ransmuta) of two men in loincloths wrestling. Image taken from f. 34 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a co... More
Full border with initial from BL Harley 4775, f. 3
Full border with initial 'S'(eynt) in blue, pink, and green with foliate spray. Image taken from f. 3 of Legenda Aurea (The Golden Legend), ending imperfectly. Written in English. The "BL Harley Manuscript" re... More
Monks singing from BL YT 43, f. 100
Historiated initial 'C'(antate) of monks singing, with a partial border including grotesques, in the Psalms. Image taken from f. 100 of Psalter and Book of Hours, Use of Saint-Omer. Written in Latin. Henry Yat... More
Inhabited initial from BL Arundel 156, f. 101
Inhabited illuminated initial 'P'(er) at the beginning of the prefaces to the Mass, with foliage, men, animals, hybrids, and animal heads. Image taken from f. 101 of Gradual, Sequentiary, and Sacramentary. Writ... More
Annunciation to the shepherds from BL Harley 2974, f. 60
Miniature of the Annunciation to the shepherds, decorated initial 'D'(eus) and foliate borders, at the beginning of Terce in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 60 of Book of Hours, unidentified Use. W... More
Decorated initial from BL Harley 2407, f. 75v
Initial 'L'(yfe thow) with pen-flourishing with a drawing of twin dragons with the sun and moon. The dragons and text were reproduced by Elias Ashmole (b. 1617, d. 1692), on page 212 of his ~Theatrum chemicu... More
Solomon and Rehoboam from BL YT 41, f. 278v
Historiated initial 'P'(arabole) of King Solomon and Rehoboam. Image taken from f. 278v of Bible. Written in Latin. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who assembled thi... More
Bernard taking possession of the Abbey of Clairvaux from BL YT 32, f. ...
Miniature of Bernard with the monks of Citeaux taking possession of the Abbey of Clairvaux, decorated initial 'S'(aint), and scatter border of flowers, bird, and butterfly, in the Chroniques abrégées des Ancien... More
Illuminated initial from BL Harley 2991, f. 43v
Illuminated initial 'D'(eus) with foliate and interlace decoration. Other capital lettering in gold. Image taken from f. 43v of Gregorian sacramentary, with benedictions. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manu... More
Augustine teaching from BL Royal 14 D I, f. 273v
Miniature of Augustine teaching two clerks and a demon flying above, with a full border and an illuminated initial 'I'(I me semble). Image taken from f. 273v of De civitate Dei, books 1-10, in French translatio... More
Virgin and Child from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 215v
Detail of a historiated initial 'O'(sculetur) of the Virgin and Child, at the beginning of Song of Solomon. Image taken from f. 215v of Bible, with the Interpretation of Hebrew names (imperfect). Written in Lat... More
Boy received into a monastery from BL Royal 10 D VIII, f. 82v
Detail of a miniature of a boy being received into a monastery, with a foliate initial 'Q'(uidam), at the beginning of causa 1. Image taken from f. 82v of Decretum, with the Glossa ordinaria. Written in Latin. ... More
Woman from BL Arundel 157, f. 134
Detail of a historiated initial of a woman holding a book. Image taken from f. 134 of Office of the Dead; Hours of the Virgin. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard fami... More
David and Goliath from BL Harley 2948, f. 96
Miniature of David and Goliath, decorated initial 'D'(omine) and full foliate borders, at the beginning of the Penitential Psalms. Image taken from f. 96 of Book of Hours, Use of Paris. Written in Latin and som... More
Fortitudo (Fortitude) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 151
Detail of a historiated initial 'F'(ortitudo) of a man fighting with a lion. Image taken from f. 151 of Omne Bonum (Ebrietas-Humanus). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Ro... More
Angeli (Angels) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 92
Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(primo) of a seraph. Image taken from f. 92 of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, c... More
Ars sive artes (Art or Arts) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 138v
Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(rtes) of a teacher at a desk, with pupils. Image taken from f. 138v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known a... More
King Ahasuerus' feast from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 132v
Detail of an historiated initial 'I'(n diebus) of King Ahasuerus' feast with Esther, princes and three musicians, at the beginning of Esther. Image taken from f. 132v of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with... More
Jeremiah from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 193
Detail of an historiated initial 'D' of God touching the mouth of Jeremiah. Image taken from f. 193 of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with the Gospel of Nicodemus and the Interpretation of Hebrew names. Wr... More
Full white vine border from BL Harley 2648, f. 1
Full white vine border with a large initial 'S'(emper). Image taken from f. 1 of Satires (index Saturae, Satirae); Persius. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manus... More
Alexander lowered into the sea from BL Royal 20 B XX, f. 77v
Miniature of Alexander being lowered into the sea in a cask, along with a cat and a cock, with a foliate initial 'L'(ore) and a partial border, at the beginning of chapter 65. Image taken from f. 77v of Histori... More
Sacrifice of a bull from BL YT 16, f. 28v
Detail of an historiated initial 'U' of three men offering a bull to be sacrificed. Image taken from f. 28v of Bible. Written in Latin. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropi... More
Full border and white vine initial from BL Harley 4769, f. 1
Full acanthus border with a large white vine initial 'P'(rofitetur) and the Fiato arms in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 1 of Epitome in vitas scriptorum illustrium. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Man... More
Giovanni Boccaccio - Bocaccio from BL Royal 16 G V, f. 3v, illuminated...
Miniature composed of four compartments: 1. Boccaccio reading a book; 2. Boccaccio presenting the book to Andrea Acciaiuoli and a group of women; 3. A messenger presenting a letter to a lady; 4. A queen with fo... More
Queen Isobel from BL Harley 4379, f. 3
Miniature of the procession of Queen Isobel as she enters the city of Paris, with an illuminated initial 'A' and a full bar border including hybrid grotesques. Image taken from f. 3 of Chroniques, Vol. IV, part... More
Edward II from BL Royal 15 E IV, f. 295v
Detail of a miniature of the marriage between Edward II and Isabella, daughter of Philippe IV of France, with a full border and a foliate initial 'A'(pres), at the beginning of book 6. Image taken from f. 295v ... More
Decorated initial-word panel from BL Harley 5716, f. 151
Detail of a page: initial-word panel ~Barukh~ (blessed) framed by a full floral border. Image taken from f. 151 of ~Arbaah Turim~ (The Four Pillars). Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a c... More
Numbers from BL Or 2626, f. 117
Detail of a page: initial-word panel, ~Wa-yedabber~ (and [the Lord] spoke) with penwork decoration and foliate scrolls, at the beginning of Numbers. Image taken from f. 117 of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~m... More
Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 2965, f. 16v
Zoomorphic initial 'D' at the beginning of a prayer attributed to Pope Gregory the Great. Image taken from f. 16v of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with En... More
John from BL Harley 2799, f. 185v
Historiated initial 'I'(n principio) with an Evangelist portrait of John. Image taken from f. 185v of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three columns, a... More
Inhabited initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 104v
Inhabited initial 'P'(ost) at the beginning of Judges. Image taken from f. 104v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a ... More
Ezekiel from BL Harley 2803, f. 229
Historiated initial 'E'(t) with a standing figure of Ezekiel with a scroll with foliate interlace and clasps at the beginning of Ezekiel, and on the left, the decorated initial 'I'(ezechiel), at the beginning o... More
Monks singing from BL YT 43, f. 100
Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(antate) of monks singing. Image taken from f. 100 of Psalter and Book of Hours, Use of Saint-Omer. Written in Latin. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collecto... More
Divinacio (Divination) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 535v
Detail of a historiated initial 'D'(ivinacionum) of a magician and devils. Image taken from f. 535v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as th... More
Historiated initial from BL Eg 931, f. 224v
Historiated initial of monks singing and a priest kneeling before an altar. Image taken from f. 224v of Pontifical, Use of Sens. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, ... More
Incipit page from BL Royal 1 D IX, f. 70
Historiated initial 'Q'([uonia]m) of Christ in Majesty in the bowl, with display script in gold, framed by a 'Winchester style' border with foliage intertwined with gold bars, at the beginning of Luke. Image ta... More
Illuminated initial from BL Eg 847, f. 14
Illuminated initial and border. Image taken from f. 14 of Scientific miscellany, including John Metham's Summa Chiromantiae (ff. 75-96). Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its f... More
Penwork initial from BL Arundel 189, f. 50
Initial 'Q'(uoniam) with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 50 of Bible Summary in verse (ends incompletely). Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particul... More
Deuteronomy from BL Harley 5710, f. 110v
Detail of an initial-word panel ~Elleh~ (these) decorated with penwork, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 110v of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~. Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Ma... More
Detail: Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 41, f. 5
Puzzle initial 'P'(ost) with pen-flourishing, at the beginning of book 1 of Guillelmus Gemmeticensis's Gesta Normannorum ducum. Image taken from f. 5 of Gesta Normannorum ducum. Written in Latin. The Arundel M... More
Detail from BL Arundel 157, f. 52
Detail of historiated initial of the Temptation of Christ. Image taken from f. 52 of Psalter, including a calendar (ff. 13-18v). Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard fa... More
Initial from BL Harley 2804, f. 43
Illuminated initial 'V'(erba) with foliate decoration. Image taken from f. 43 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible'), Psalms-Acts 16:17, imperfect. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of ... More
Noli me tangere from BL Royal 2 B III, f. 110
Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(antate) of Christ and Mary Magdalene (Noli me tangere), at the beginning of Psalm 95. Image taken from f. 110 of Psalter. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collecti... More
Illuminated initial from BL Royal 2 A VIII, f. 102
Illuminated initial 'B'(eati) with a partial bar border, at the beginning of the Commemoration of Souls. Image taken from f. 102 of Book of Hours, Use of Sarum. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collec... More
Gregory delivering his decretals from BL Royal 10 E VII, f. 1
Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(d comentum) of Gregory delivering a letter to two cardinals. Image taken from f. 1 of Lectura in quinque libros Decretalium (Books 1-2). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manus... More
Decorated initial-word panels from BL Harley 7586B, f. 81v
Initial-word panels decorated with penwork and pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 81v of Guide of the Perplexed (~Moreh Nevukhim~) in Samuel ibn Tibbon's translation. Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Manusc... More
Justinian receiving taxes from BL Royal 10 E III, f. 227v
Detail of a miniature of the emperor Justinian and a kneeling man with a purse before him, with a lawyer and a soldier; and a foliate initial 'S'(i prius), at the beginning of book 10 of the Codex 'De iure fisc... More
Peacock from BL Harley 2954, f. 15
Illuminated initial with foliate penwork, and a foliate border with a peacock. Image taken from f. 15 of Book of Hours. Written in Dutch. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscrip... More
Decorated initial-word panel with full border from BL Harley 5698, f. ...
Initial-word panel with gold letters and penwork decoration, full foliate border in the margins. Image taken from f. 11v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volume 1. Written in Hebrew. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers ... More
Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 383, f. 45
Puzzle initial 'F'(orma), at the beginning of Gilbertus Porretanus's Liber de sex principiis. Image taken from f. 45 of Translations of Aristotle, etc., and others, some with glosses. Written in Latin. The Aru... More
Royal arms of England and devices of Henry VIII from BL Royal 8 G VII,...
Miniature of the royal arms of England supported by a red dragon and a white greyhound, surmounted by a crown and encircled by the Garter, with a Tudor rose and a pomegranate; and an illuminated initial 'T'(eno... More
Decorated initial from BL Royal 3 C VIII, f. 148
Detail of a decorated initial 'H'(ec), with foliate motifs, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 148 of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, with the Glossa ordinaria and interlinear glosses, imperf... More
Triumph of Chastity from BL Harley 5761, f. 24
Full border with flowers, birds, portrait medallions, historiated initial 'Q'(uando), and a medallion of the Triumph of Chastity. Image taken from f. 24 of Trionfi (index Triumphs) (ff. 11-52v); Rime (ff. 55-19... More
David penitent from BL Harley 2989, f. 73
Miniature of David penitent, decorated initial 'D'(omine) and foliate borders including medallions with Bathsheba and the Last Judgement, at the beginning of the Penitential Psalms. Image taken from f. 73 of Bo... More
Philosophy from BL Royal 14 D I, f. 337v
Miniature of Philosophy holding the spheres, with a full border and an illuminated initial 'O'(r). Image taken from f. 337v of De civitate Dei, books 1-10, in French translation (La cite de Dieu). Written in Fr... More
Sin and grace from BL Harley 1310, f. 81
Miniature of a layman accompanied by an angel and by the devil, lectured about sin and grace by a religious, large initial 'Q'(ui), and three-sided foliate border, at the beginning of the list containing the se... More
Death of Sanguius from BL YT 12, f. 99v
Detail of an historiated initial 'N' of the death of Sanguius, who is beign murdered by his chamberlains. Image taken from f. 99v of Histoire d'Outremer, continued to 1232. Written in French. Henry Yates Thomp... More
Giovanni Boccaccio - Presentation scene from BL Royal 18 D VII, f. 2, ...
Detail of a miniature divided in 4 compartments: 1. Pope with cardinals; 2. King of France enthroned; 3. Jean, duke of Berry receiving the book from the translator, Laurent de Premierfait; 4. A group of laboure... More
Christ Disputing from BL Royal 2 B VII, f. 150v
Miniature of Christ in the Temple disputing with the doctors, with the Virgin Mary behind, and six niches with prophets, with an historiated initial 'D'(ixit) of David and the fool, and a bas-de-page scene of a... More
Battle from BL Royal 20 D I, f. 21v
Miniature of the battle between Crete and Athens, with Theseus and the Cretan army assigned with the arms of Anjou, with a caption reading 'La bataille de chians de crete et de ceuls dathenes'; and an illuminat... More
Historiated initial from BL Eg 3277, f. 133
Historated initial 'D'(omini) at the Penitential Psalms: the priests give Judas money (Luke 22:5), Christ sends Peter and John to prepare the passover (Luke 22:8), the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, a... More
Avaritia (Avarice) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 154v
Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(varicia) of a rich man holding a bag of silver coins, faced by a man with two children on his shoulders. Image taken from f. 154v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Writt... More
Celebracio missarum (Celebration of masses) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 2...
Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(elebrari) of a priest celebrating a mass. Image taken from f. 246v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as... More
Letter B from BL Sloane 1174, f. 2
Detail of initial with human and animal heads. Image taken from f. 2 of Religious verses, hymns, etc. (index Alphabet Book). Written in Netherlandish. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist... More
Angels singing from BL Royal 2 A XVI, f. 118
Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(antate) of angels singing, at the beginning of Psalm 97. Image taken from f. 118 of Psalter ('The Psalter of Henry VIII'). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collecti... More
Coloured initial from BL Harley 1775, f. 193
Coloured initial 'E'(t veniunt lericho) at the beginning of chapter 11 of Mark's Gospel. Image taken from f. 193 of Four Gospels (the 'Harley Gospels', or 'Codex Harleianus'). Written in Latin. The "BL Harley ... More
Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 263v
Detail of a decorated initial 'N' with clasps. Image taken from f. 263v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collecti... More
Haggai from BL Harley 2803, f. 281
Detail of a historiated initial 'I'(n anno) depicting the standing prophet holding a scroll, at the beginning of Haggai (Aggaeus). Image taken from f. 281 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible),... More
Zephaniah from BL Harley 2803, f. 279v
Detail of a historiated initial 'V' of the prophet Zephaniah standing with a scroll inscribed '[V]'(erbum Domini), at the beginning of Zephaniah (Sophoniae). Image taken from f. 279v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible'... More
Simeon from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 222v
Detail of an historiated initial 'S'(eint) of Simeon on his pillar, with the pilgrims below. Image taken from f. 222v of Lives of the Saints. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known a... More
Simon Magus, Peter and Paul from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 1
Detail of a historiated initial 'Q'(uant) of Simon Magus and Peter and Paul before Nero, at the beginning of the rubric 'Ci commence li escris de seint Pere et de seint Pol encontre Symon Mague devant lempereo... More
Inhabited panel from BL Harley 7586A, f. 5v
Panel inhabited by a hybrid, accompanying the initial words of a section. Image taken from f. 5v of Guide of the Perplexed (~Moreh Nevukhim~) by Maimonides in Samuel ibn Tibbon's translation (ff. 3-169v); ~Per... More
Illuminated initial from BL Royal 12 E XV, f. 19
Illuminated initial 'D'(omino) with pen-flourished border containg a hybrid, at the beginning of the Secretum Secretorum. Image taken from f. 19 of Secretum secretorum, translated by Philip of Tripoli (index Ph... More
Decorated initial-word panel with full border from BL Harley 5698, f. ...
Initial-word panel with gold letters and penwork decoration, foliate full border in the margins, at the beginning of ~Sefer Ahavah~. Image taken from f. 63v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volume 1. Written in Hebrew.... More
Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 585, f. 130 manuscript
Initial 'W'' decorated with zoomorphic motifs of snakes. Image taken from f. 130 of Medical miscellany in Old English, including the translations of the Pseudo-Apuleius's 'Herbarium', imperfect (ff. 1-66v), the... More
Decorated initial and border from BL Harley 1845, f. 54v
Decorated initial 'C'(onverte) with acanthus leaves combined with a full foliate border, at the beginning of Compline of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 54v of Book of Hours, for the use of Sarum, imperfect. Wr... More
Decorated initial with tromp l'oeil border from BL Royal 2 A IV, f. 14
Foliate initial 'D'(omine) with a tromp l'oeil border containing birds, flowers and fruits, at the beginning of Matins in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 14 of Book of Hours, Use of Sarum. Written ... More
Wet-nurse from BL Sloane 2435, f. 28v
Detail of historiated initial 'A' with the choosing a wet-nurse: A noble woman tests the exposed breast of a propective nurse. Image taken from f. 28v of Le Régime du corps (ff. 1-75v); Image du monde (ff. 77-1... More
Illuminated initial from BL Eg 1148, f. 108v
Illuminated initial. Image taken from f. 108v of Sonetti and Canzoniere (ff. 10-150), Trionfi (ff. 151-187v) (ends imperfectly), preceded by a table. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founde... More
Nativity from BL Sloane 2418, f. 45
Miniature of the Nativity, and decorated initial 'D'(eus), at the beginning of Prime in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 45 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-17... More
All Saints' day from BL YT 2, f. 38
Miniature of a seated Christ, the lamb of God, and saints including bishops holding palms in an enclosure, and decorated initial 'V'(idi). Image taken from f. 38 of Collectar ('The Ottobeuren Collectar'). Writt... More
Church Fathers from BL Harley 4902, f. 1
Historiated initial 'G'(loriosissimam) with Augustine as a bishop, with stigmata, combined with a three-sided white vine border including the coats of arms of the Hungarian humanists Janus Vitez (index John Vit... More
Peter from BL YT 29, f. 55v - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of an historiated initial 'D'(eus) of Peter with a book, with a partial border of flowers, leaves, and a bird. Image taken from f. 55v of Book of Hours, Use of Rome (the 'Hours of Bonaparte Ghislieri', f... More
Iudei (Jews) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 341
Detail of a historiated initial 'I'(udei) of three Jews. Image taken from f. 341 of Omne Bonum (Ebrietas-Humanus). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, cons... More
Hosea and Gomer from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 306
Detail of a historiated initial 'V'(erbum) of Hosea and Gomer, at the beginning of Hosea. Image taken from f. 306 of Bible, with the Interpretation of Hebrew names (imperfect). Written in Latin. The BL Royal M... More
Three Living and Three Dead from BL Harley 2917, f. 119
Miniature of three living, a pope, an emperor, and a king, and three dead wearing a mitre, a large crown, and a small crown, decorated initial 'D'(ilexi) and full foliate borders, at the beginning of the Office... More
Deuteronomy from BL Harley 5710, f. 110v
Initial-word panel ~Elleh~ (these) decorated with penwork and accompanied by a foliate border inhabited by a figure, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 110v of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~... More
Haggai from BL Harley 5711, f. 120
Decorated initial-word panel ~Bi-shnat~ (in the year of) accompanied with a foliate border inhabited by hybrids, at the beginning of Haggai. Image taken from f. 120 of Bible with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~. Wr... More
Author portrait from BL Harley 3969, f. 41
Historiated initial 'E'(x Cassiodoro) with the author Cassiodorus pointing at an open book, and a foliated tendril extending into the margin; the body of the letter contains a blue figure. Smaller historiated i... More
King Edward III from BL YT 48, f. 41
Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(ome) of Edward III, at the beginning of his Statutes. Image taken from f. 41 of Nova Statuta (index Statutes of England, Statuta Angliae, Statute book), from Edward III to H... More
Xpc (Christ) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 526v
Detail of a historiated initial 'X'(pc) of Christ as a king with the instruction for an illuminator reading, 'Sedeat christus…', next to the initial. Image taken from f. 526v of Omne Bonum (Jacob-Zacharias). Wr... More