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Decorated initial from BL YT 26, f. 7v

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

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

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

Detail of the Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds from BL Add 52539, f. 1

Detail of the Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds from BL A...

Detail of a historiated initial 'D' of the Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds, at the beginning of Terce in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 1 of Leaves and bifolia from a Book of Hours,... More

Astronomy from BL Burn 275, f. 390v

Astronomy from BL Burn 275, f. 390v

Detail of historiated initial, with a female figure, possibly a personification of astronomy, showing the stars to a group of scholars, who wear versions of fourteenth-century academic dress, at the beginning o... More

Edward III and the Black Prince from BL Royal 20 D X, f. 28

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

Augustine teaching from BL Royal 14 D I, f. 273v

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

Illuminated initial from BL Arundel 490, f. 7

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

Decorated masoretic lists from BL Add 27167, ff. 5v-6

Decorated masoretic lists from BL Add 27167, ff. 5v-6

Decorated masoretic lists with initial-word panels and full borders, with penwork decoration and pen-flourishing. Image taken from ff. 5v-6 of Pentateuch (the 'Almanzi Pentateuch') with ~Haftarot~ and Five Scro... More

Illuminated initial from BL Lansdowne 842, f. 19

Illuminated initial from BL Lansdowne 842, f. 19

Detail of illuminated initial. Image taken from f. 19 of Opera omnia. Written in Latin.

Marriage ceremony from BL Royal 10 E IX, f. 195

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

Calling of Peter and Andrew from BL Add 37955B, B

Calling of Peter and Andrew from BL Add 37955B, B

Historiated initial 'M' of the Calling of Peter and Andrew. Image taken from B of Cutting from a choir book. Written in Latin.

John the Baptist from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 52

John the Baptist from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. ...

Historiated initial 'N' with John the Baptist, measuring 160 x 165 mm. On the reverse, two four-line staves, musical notation and partial text '..ni um p[er]hi /..e lumi nep'. Image taken from f. 52 of Cuttings... More

White vine initial from BL Harley 3814, f. 21

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

The Wicked Son from BL Or 1404, f. 10v

The Wicked Son from BL Or 1404, f. 10v

Four initial-word panels with gold letters and white vine motifs; in the outer margin, a soldier representing the Wicked Son. Image taken from f. 10v of Haggadah with commentary and liturgical poems for Passove... More

Saints from BL Add 32058, f. 2 (a), f. 2 (a)

Saints from BL Add 32058, f. 2 (a), f. 2 (a)

Historiated initial 'S' of two saints stopping a soldier from killing a sheep. Image taken from f. 2 (a) of Cutting from a choir book. Written in Latin.

Historiated initial and bar border from BL Harley 2749, f. 1

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 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

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 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

Bernard taking possession of the Abbey of Clairvaux from BL YT 32, f. 9v

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

Monks singing from BL YT 43, f. 100

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

initial from "“A Drug in the Market”: being some of the Songs of Zion that are not wanted. Written by Jacobus"

initial from "“A Drug in the Market”: being some of the Songs of Zion ...

This image has been taken from scan 000038 from "“A Drug in the Market”: being some of the Songs of Zion that are not wanted. Written by Jacobus". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated f... More

Rose from "Songs of the Master's Love. [With illuminated initial letters, etc.]"

Rose from "Songs of the Master's Love. [With illuminated initial lette...

This image has been taken from scan 000028 from "Songs of the Master's Love. [With illuminated initial letters, etc.]". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by users ... More

Inhabited initial from BL Arundel 156, f. 101

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

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

This image has been taken from scan 000077 from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by users of the British Library's fl... More

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

This image has been taken from scan 000271 from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by users of the British Library's fl... More

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

initial from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche"

This image has been taken from scan 000013 from "Storia della Cava, distinta in tre epoche". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by users of the British Library's fl... More

'We were slaves' from BL Add 14761, f. 30v

'We were slaves' from BL Add 14761, f. 30v

Historiated initial-word panel with gold letters: ~Avadim~ at the beginning of the passage, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh'. Beneath the initial word, the Israelites build a tower under the supervision of a task ma... More

Last Supper from BL Add 35254O - Public domain medieval manuscript

Last Supper from BL Add 35254O - Public domain medieval manuscript

Historiated initial 'N' (cropped; the lower part of the letter is visible at the top right of the miniature) of the Last Supper beneath a cartouche inscribed in capitals 'Desiderio desideravi / hoc pascha mandu... More

Annunciation to the shepherds from BL Harley 2974, f. 60

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

Virgin Adoring the Christ Child from BL Add 39636, ff. 5-8, 11-12, 30-32, f. 7

Virgin Adoring the Christ Child from BL Add 39636, ff. 5-8, 11-12, 30-...

Historiated initial 'P' of the Virgin Adoring the Christ Child, measuring 250 x 210. On the reverse, partial two four-line staves, musical notation and text: '..lo tu /… Co[n]. Exulta'. Image taken from f. 7 of... More

Christ blessing from BL Add 18196, ff. 43-45, f. 43

Christ blessing from BL Add 18196, ff. 43-45, f. 43

Historiated initial 'S' of Christ blessing. Image taken from f. 43 of Cuttings from a choir book.

Christ among the Doctors from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 19

Christ among the Doctors from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33...

Historiated initial 'I' or 'L' with Christ among the Doctors, measuring 165 x 160 mm. On the reverse, two four-line staves, musical notation and partial text '..Vidi m[us] /..in oriente et'. Image taken from f... More

Zoomorphic lettering from BL Add 27210, f. 31v

Zoomorphic lettering from BL Add 27210, f. 31v

Initial word with zoomorphic letters, ~she-eno~ (the Son Who Does Not Know How to Ask). Image taken from f. 31v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Adoration of the Magi from BL Add 52539, f. 2

Adoration of the Magi from BL Add 52539, f. 2

Historiated initial 'D' of the Adoration of the Magi, with three-sided partial border of heavy acanthus ornament inhabited by a kneeling figure, human heads, and gold bezants, at the beginning of Sext in the Ho... More

Peter from BL Add 18196, ff. 43-45, f. 44

Peter from BL Add 18196, ff. 43-45, f. 44

Historiated initial 'Q' of Peter. Image taken from f. 44 of Cuttings from a choir book.

Illuminated initial from BL Harley 2991, f. 43v

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

initial from "Documents sur la ville de Royan et la tour de Cordouan, etc"

initial from "Documents sur la ville de Royan et la tour de Cordouan, ...

This image has been taken from scan 000017 from volume 01 of "Documents sur la ville de Royan et la tour de Cordouan, etc". The title and subject terms of this image have been generated from tags, created by us... More

Initial from BL Add 22310, ff. 10 (1), 11 (1 and 3), 12 (1-18), f. 12 (18)

Initial from BL Add 22310, ff. 10 (1), 11 (1 and 3), 12 (1-18), f. 12 ...

Foliate initial 'A' (sixth row, right). Image taken from f. 12 (18) of Cuttings from a choir book. Written in Latin.

Virgin and Child from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 215v

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

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

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

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

Church mass from BL Stowe 582, ff. 18v-19

Church mass from BL Stowe 582, ff. 18v-19

Miniature of the church mass for the coronation of Claude de France, and decorated initial 'P'(uis), in Le Sacre de Claude de France. Image taken from ff. 18v-19 of Le Sacre de Claude de France. Written in French.

Fortitudo (Fortitude) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 151

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

Initial-word panel and full border from BL Or 2627, f. 1v

Initial-word panel and full border from BL Or 2627, f. 1v

Initial-word panel with penwork decoration and full foliate border, at the beginning of Joshua. Image taken from f. 1v of Bible (the 'Lisbon Bible') with ~masorah magna~ and ~parva~: the Prophets. Written in Hebrew.

Angeli (Angels) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 92

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

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

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

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 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

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

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 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 manuscript

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

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

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

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

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

Detail from BL Arundel 222, f. 1

Detail from BL Arundel 222, f. 1

Decorated initial 'S'(anctissimo) at the beginning of Bede's life of Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 1 of Prose Vita sancti Cuthberti (ff. 1-34v), two miracles from the Historia ecclesiastica, De gestis pontificu... More

Detail from BL Harley 3735, f. 74

Detail from BL Harley 3735, f. 74

Detail of a decorated initial 'I'(ntencio) at the beginning of Robert Grosseteste's De sphaera. Image taken from f. 74 of Various calendarial and computistical treatises. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manus... More

Prayer against poison from BL Harley 2965, f. 37

Prayer against poison from BL Harley 2965, f. 37

Decorated initial at the beginning of the prayer against poison. Image taken from f. 37 of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with English. The "BL Harley Man... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 76v

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 76v

Detail of a decorated initial 'H'(ec) at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 76v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscrip... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 175v

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 175v

Detail of a decorated initial 'N'(emo) at the beginning of the prologue to Isaiah. Image taken from f. 175v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Har... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 162

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 162

Detail of a decorated initial 'F'(actum est autem) at the beginning of 2 Kings, Chapter 2 (4 Kings, Chapter 2). Image taken from f. 162 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Wr... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 269

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 269

Detail of a decorated initial 'O' with clasps, at the beginning of Amos. Image taken from f. 269 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscr... More

Pen-flourished initial from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 6v

Pen-flourished initial from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 6v

Detail of a pen-flourished initial 'Q'(uinto). Image taken from f. 6v of Historia scholastica (The 'Ashridge Petrus Comestor'). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Col... More

Coronation of Baldwin IV from BL Royal 15 E I, f. 377

Coronation of Baldwin IV from BL Royal 15 E I, f. 377

Detail of a miniature of the coronation of Baldwin IV, with a foliate initial 'Q'(uant). Image taken from f. 377 of Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, in French, with continuation to 1231. Writte... More

Conversion of Saul (Paul) from BL YT 49, vol. 1, f. 44

Conversion of Saul (Paul) from BL YT 49, vol. 1, f. 44

Miniature of the conversion of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, with an illuminated initial 'L'(a), and partial foliate borders, at the beginning of the legend of Paul. Image taken from vol. 1, f. 44 of The... More

Detail from BL Eg 617, f. 198 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail from BL Eg 617, f. 198 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of illuminated initial 'A'(ud) in 1 Maccabees. Image taken from f. 198 of Bible, in the early Wycliffite version; Proverbs to Maccabees. Written in English. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named af... More

Lex (Law) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 434v

Lex (Law) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 434v

Detail of a historiated initial 'L'(ex) of a judge with two boys, following an instruction 'judex cum famulis' in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 434v of Omne Bonum (Jacob-Zacharias). Written in Latin. T... More

White vine initial from BL Harley 3957, f. 4v

White vine initial from BL Harley 3957, f. 4v

White vine initial 'I'(ncipiunt) at the beginning of the Chronicle. Image taken from f. 4v of Chronici canones (index Chronicon, Chronicle). Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection ... More

Bishop from BL Lansdowne 451, f. 176

Bishop from BL Lansdowne 451, f. 176

Detail of historiated initial 'O'(rdo) with a bishop in front of an altar, blessing apparel. Image taken from f. 176 of Pontifical; Tabula. Written in Latin.

Peter from BL Add 48988, f. 52, f. 52

Peter from BL Add 48988, f. 52, f. 52

Historiated initial 'N' with a half-length figure of Peter holding a key and a book. Image taken from f. 52 of Cutting from a Gradual. Written in Latin.

Full border from BL Harley 5050, f. 1

Full border from BL Harley 5050, f. 1

Full border with putti, candelabra, floral and foliate motifs, strings of coral and gem stones. Faceted initial 'M' (Cato Portius Tusculanus), and the coat of arms of Girolamo della Rovere supported by 2 putti.... More

White vine border with Petrucci arms from BL Harley 4144, f. 1

White vine border with Petrucci arms from BL Harley 4144, f. 1

Full white vine border inhabited by putti, birds, and flowers, with a large white vine initial 'A'(equius), and the arms of the Petrucci family in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 1 of Orationes. Written i... More

Decorated initial and border from BL Harley 2447, f. 51v

Decorated initial and border from BL Harley 2447, f. 51v

Decorated initial 'D'(eus) and bar border with acanthus leaves at the beginning of None in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 51v of Book of hours, Use of Sarum, imperfect. Written in Latin. The "BL ... More

Illuminated initial from BL Eg 608, f. 3

Illuminated initial from BL Eg 608, f. 3

Illuminated initial 'B'(eato) with foliate decoration at the beginning of Jerome's prologue. Image taken from f. 3 of Four Gospels, with list of lections (ff. 168v-177). Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscrip... More

Bohemund and Daimbert from BL YT 12, f. 58v

Bohemund and Daimbert from BL YT 12, f. 58v

Detail of an historiated initial 'E'(stez) with Bohemund and Daimbert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, sailing for Apulia, in a ship flying the cross of St George. Image taken from f. 58v of Histoire d'Outremer, contin... More

Annunciation from BL Add 18197, ff. E-F, f. E

Annunciation from BL Add 18197, ff. E-F, f. E

Historiated initial 'N' of the Annunciation. On the reverse, two four-line red staves, musical notation, and text '..Rorate celi / …s pluant in'. Image taken from f. E of Cuttings from a choir book, probably a ... More

Siege of Damascus from BL Royal 15 E I, f. 280v

Siege of Damascus from BL Royal 15 E I, f. 280v

Detail of a miniature of the siege of Damascus by Crusaders, under three banners, of England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire, with a partial border and a foliate initial 'D(amas). Image taken from f. 280v of... More

Birth of John the Baptist from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. 15

Birth of John the Baptist from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. ...

Historiated initial 'G' of the birth of John the Baptist, measuring 165 x 125 mm (bottom miniature). Image taken from f. 15 of Cuttings from a Dominican choir book.

Presentation in the Temple from BL Add 52539, f. 4v

Presentation in the Temple from BL Add 52539, f. 4v

Historiated initial 'D' of the Presentation in the Temple, at the beginning of Vespers in the Hours of the Virgin, with extensions into borders of acanthus-like foliage inhabited by a hybrid creature, a zoomorp... More

Historiated initial from BL Royal 1 B VIII, f. 112

Historiated initial from BL Royal 1 B VIII, f. 112

Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(onfortatus) of Salomon enthroned, at the beginning of Chronicles II. Image taken from f. 112 of Bible, with the interpretation of Hebrew names. Written in Latin. The BL Roy... More

Zoomorphic initial from BL Royal 6 C VI, f. 91

Zoomorphic initial from BL Royal 6 C VI, f. 91

Detail of a zoomorphic initial 'H' of a dragon, at the beginning of book 24. Image taken from f. 91 of Moralia in Job, parts 4-6 (books 17-35). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known ... More

Passover lamb from BL Add 14761, f. 60

Passover lamb from BL Add 14761, f. 60

Historiated initial-word panel: ~Pesah~ (Passover lamb) depicting a young man roasting the Passover lamb. Image taken from f. 60 of Haggadah, liturgical poems and biblical readings for Passover (The 'Barcelona ... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 3205, f. 50v

Decorated initial from BL Harley 3205, f. 50v

Decorated initial 'R'(ex) with pen-flourishing. Image taken from f. 50v of Nova Statuta (index Statutes of England, Statuta Angliae, Statute book), for 1-50 Edward III (ff. 14-245), imperfect. Written in Latin,... More

Ptolemy from BL Harley 7182, f. 2

Ptolemy from BL Harley 7182, f. 2

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(osmographia) with a portrait of Ptolemy. Image taken from f. 2 of Geography (index Cosmographie primus) with twenty-seven maps. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" ... More

Bust of a woman from BL Stowe 12, f. 256v

Bust of a woman from BL Stowe 12, f. 256v

Detail of an historiated initial 'D' of the bust of a woman. Image taken from f. 256v of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'). Written in Latin.

Pius IV from BL Add 21412, ff. 81-94*, ff. 88a-v

Pius IV from BL Add 21412, ff. 81-94*, ff. 88a-v

A montage (now dismembered) of a full-page historiated border, with the text removed, of floral motifs, the arms of Pius IV, a banner inscribed 'Pius IIII Pont. Max.', medallions containing figures in gold mono... More

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 327

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 327

Detail of an historiated initial 'O' of a bust of a bishop, with a partial bar border including a grotesque hybrid. Image taken from f. 327 of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'... More

Initial and border from BL Lansdowne 469, f. 1

Initial and border from BL Lansdowne 469, f. 1

Decorated initial and full foliate border, at the beginning of the Nova Statuta. Image taken from f. 1 of Nova Statuta (index Statutes of England, Statuta Angliae, Statute book), from 1 Edward III to 3 Henry V ... More

initial from "Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto, ossia Storia delle città, dei borghi, communi, castelli, ecc. fino ai tempi moderni, per cura di C. Cantù e d'altri letterati. Seconda edizione"

initial from "Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto, ossia Storia d...

This image has been taken from scan 000221 from volume 02 of "Grande illustrazione del Lombardo-Veneto, ossia Storia delle città, dei borghi, communi, castelli, ecc. fino ai tempi moderni, per cura di C. Cantu... More

Decorated initial-word panel from BL Or 2884, f. 29

Decorated initial-word panel from BL Or 2884, f. 29

Decorated initial-word panel with foliate scroll spreading to the upper margin. Image taken from f. 29 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Raising of Souls to Heaven from BL Harley 2933, f. 175

Raising of Souls to Heaven from BL Harley 2933, f. 175

Miniature of the Raising of Souls to Heaven, decorated initial 'S'(ubvenite) and full foliate border, at the beginning of the Commendation of Souls. Image taken from f. 175 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome. Writte... More

Initial from "De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint-Lucasgilde onder zinspreuk: “Wt Ionsten Versaemt,” afgeschreven en bewerkt door Ph. Rambouts en Th. van Lerius ... Les Liggeren et autres archives historiques, etc"

Initial from "De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerps...

This image has been taken from scan 000182 from volume 01 of "De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint-Lucasgilde onder zinspreuk: “Wt Ionsten Versaemt,” afgeschreven en bewerkt door Ph.... More

Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 3052, f. 3

Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 3052, f. 3

Detail of a zoomorphic initial 'I'(nter) of a standing dog (?) at the beginning of the first part of Gregory the Great's Moralia in Job. Image taken from f. 3 of Moralia in Job, books 1-9 (ff. 1v-113); Homiliae... More

Christ blessing from BL Royal 4 D VI, f. 1v

Christ blessing from BL Royal 4 D VI, f. 1v

Detail of a historiated initial 'P'(aulus) of Christ blessing and holding a book, at the beginning of Romans, and a historiated initial 'P'(aulus) of a lion and an eagle, at the beginning of the Peter Lombard's... More

Decorated initial-word panel from BL Or 2696, f. 3

Decorated initial-word panel from BL Or 2696, f. 3

Detail: decorated initial-word panel ~Bereshit~ (In the beginning), at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 3 of Pentateuch, Five Scrolls (~Hamesh megillot~) and ~Haftarot~ with ~masorah~ and Rash's co... More

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