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manuscript decoration, historiated initials

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Habakkuk from BL Harley 2803, f. 278

Habakkuk from BL Harley 2803, f. 278

Detail of historiated initial 'O'(nus) with Habakkuk holding a scroll, and an entwined man, at the beginning of Habakkuk. Image taken from f. 278 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis ... More

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 120v

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 120v

Detail of an historiated initial 'F' of a bust of a bishop. Image taken from f. 120v of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'). Written in Latin.

Adam and Eve from BL Harley 7621, f. 1

Adam and Eve from BL Harley 7621, f. 1

Detail of a pge: historiated initial-word panel, ~Bereshit~ (in the beginning), of the Original Sin, at the beginning of Genesis. Above the initial word, Adam and Eve are depicted under a tree holding apples, w... More

Doctor from BL Harley 3140, f. 39

Doctor from BL Harley 3140, f. 39

Detail of an historiated initial 'Q' with a doctor (Hippocrates?), shown as a university physician with a long robe and cap, administering a liquid from a sponge or a dish to a patient in bed, attended by a stu... More

John from BL Royal 1 D I, f. 532v

John from BL Royal 1 D I, f. 532v

Detail of a historiated Initial 'S'(enior) of John holding a scroll, at the beginning of John II. Image taken from f. 532v of Bible, with the Interpretation of Hebrew names (The 'Bible of William of Devon'). Wr... More

Bishop from BL Eg 1067, f. 75 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Bishop from BL Eg 1067, f. 75 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Historiated initial of a bishop blessing nuns, with a full border, with flowers and strawberries. Image taken from f. 75 of Pontifical. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its fo... More

Saints from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. 16

Saints from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. 16

Historiated initial 'S' of two saints, measuring 90 x 85 mm. Image taken from f. 16 of Cuttings from a Dominican choir book.

King David playing the bells from BL Stowe 12, f. 190

King David playing the bells from BL Stowe 12, f. 190

Detail of an historiated initial 'E'(xultate) depicting King David playing bells, with a partial bar border including a bearded grotesque, at the beginning of Psalm 80. Image taken from f. 190 of Breviary, Use ... More

Initial-word panel from BL Add 14761, f. 65v

Initial-word panel from BL Add 14761, f. 65v

Historiated initial-word panel: ~Halleluyah~ (Praise the Lord) of a service in the synagogue, at the beginning of the Hallel. Image taken from f. 65v of Haggadah, liturgical poems and biblical readings for Pass... More

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 284

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 284

Detail of an historiated initial 'O'(pus) of a bust of a bishop, with a partial bar border including a hooded grotesque. Image taken from f. 284 of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Brev... More

Temptation of Christ from BL Royal 2 B III, f. 37v

Temptation of Christ from BL Royal 2 B III, f. 37v

Historiated initial 'D'(ominus) of the Temptation of Christ, at the beginning of Psalm 26. Image taken from f. 37v of Psalter. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Coll... More

Adventus Domini (Incarnation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 55

Adventus Domini (Incarnation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 55

Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(dventus) of the Annunciation. Image taken from f. 55 of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Col... More

Abishag from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 79

Abishag from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 79

Detail of an historiated initial 'E'(t rex) of Abishag before David. Image taken from f. 79 of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with the Gospel of Nicodemus and the Interpretation of Hebrew names. Written in... More

Border decoration from BL Royal 20 E III, f. 114

Border decoration from BL Royal 20 E III, f. 114

Detail of a page with an historiated initial 'L'(e duc) and a decorated border. Image taken from f. 114 of Chroniques de France ou de Saint Denis (from 1108 to 1270). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript... More

Eustace from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 207v

Eustace from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 207v

Detail of an historiated initial 'A'(utens que) of Eustace, his wife and children being roasted in a brazen bull as the emperor Hadrian looks on. Image taken from f. 207v of Lives of the Saints. Written in Fren... More

Elcanah, Hannah and Peninnah from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 116

Elcanah, Hannah and Peninnah from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 116

Detail of an historiated initial 'F'(uit) of Elcanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah, at the beginning of Kings 1. Image taken from f. 116 of Historia scholastica (The 'Ashridge Petrus Comestor'). Writte... More

Tree of Jesse from BL Royal 2 A XVIII, f. 96

Tree of Jesse from BL Royal 2 A XVIII, f. 96

Historiated initial 'B'(eatus) of the Tree of Jesse with a full border. Image taken from f. 96 of Book of Hours (The 'Beaufort/Beauchamp Hours'), Use of Sarum. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collect... More

Sacrifice from BL Royal 1 E IV, f. 135

Sacrifice from BL Royal 1 E IV, f. 135

Detail of an historiated initial 'V'(ocavit) of Israelits offering sacrifice to God, at the beginning of Leviticus. Image taken from f. 135 of Bible (Octateuch). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Colle... More

Assumption of the Virgin from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 15

Assumption of the Virgin from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33...

Historiated initial 'G' with the Assumption of the Virgin, measuring 80 x 85 mm. On the reverse, one four-line stave, musical notation and partial text 'collau'. Image taken from f. 15 of Cuttings from a choir ... More

Peter and Paul from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 16

Peter and Paul from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 16

Historiated initial 'N' with Peter and Paul, measuring 160 x 160 mm. On the reverse, two four-line staves, musical notation and partial text '..expectatio /…bis iude'. Image taken from f. 16 of Cuttings from a ... More

Livy from BL Harley 3694, f. 2 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Livy from BL Harley 3694, f. 2 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of an historiated initial 'M' of Livy holding a book. Image taken from f. 2 of Ab urbe condita, Fourth Decade (ff. 1v-151), Epitomies (ff. 152-186v), Periochae (ff. 187-214v). Written in Latin. The "BL ... More

Seder table from BL Add 14761, f. 28v

Seder table from BL Add 14761, f. 28v

Detail of a page; Historiated initial-word panel ~Ha lahma aniya~ (The Bread of Affliction), at the beginning of the text of the Haggadah. Beneath the initial words, a miniature depicting a family by the Seder ... More

Joseph and his brothers from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-58, f. 54

Joseph and his brothers from BL Add 39636, ff. 4, 9, 15-16, 19-27, 33-...

Historiated initial 'U' with Joseph and his brothers, illustrating Genesis 37:18-21, measuring 165 x 165 mm. On the reverse, two four-line staves, musical notation and partial text 'cidam(ur) / amus si pro'. Im... More

Scenes from the life of Abraham from BL Add 14761, ff. 36v-37

Scenes from the life of Abraham from BL Add 14761, ff. 36v-37

Folio 36v: historiated initial-word panel with gold letters: ~Mi-thilah~ at the beginning of the passage, 'In the beginning our fathers were idolators'. Around the initial-word panel, two midrashic scenes: on t... More

Bathing of the Christ Child from BL Add 18196, f. 13, f. 13

Bathing of the Christ Child from BL Add 18196, f. 13, f. 13

Historiated initial 'P' of the preparation for the bathing of the Christ Child. Image taken from f. 13 of Cutting from a choir book.

Esra from BL Harley 2804, f. 108

Esra from BL Harley 2804, f. 108

Historiated initial 'I'(n anno) of Esra, at the beginning of Esra. Image taken from f. 108 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible'), Psalms-Acts 16:17, imperfect. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a c... More

Historiated initial from BL Add 38117, f. 97v

Historiated initial from BL Add 38117, f. 97v

Detail of an historiated initial 'O' with image of King Arthur setting infants adrift in a boat. Image taken from f. 97v of Joseph d'Arimathie (ff. 1-18), Le Livre de Merlin (ff. 18v-74), Suite de Merlin (ff. 7... More

Ceremony from BL Harley 1498, f. 76

Ceremony from BL Harley 1498, f. 76

Detail of an historiated initial 'T'(his) of the manuscript in use at a ceremony. Image taken from f. 76 of Quadripartite Indenture for Henry VII's Chapel. Written in English with Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscr... More

Pantaleon from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 92v

Pantaleon from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 92v

Historiated initial 'A'(tel) of Pantaleon before the emperor, at the beginning of the rubric: 'Ci commence la vie seint Pantaleon'. Image taken from f. 92v of Lives of the Saints. Written in French. The BL Roy... More

Synagogue and Ecclesia from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 93

Synagogue and Ecclesia from BL Royal 3 D VI, f. 93

Detail of an historiated initial 'Q'(uinta) of Synagogue and Ecclesia, at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 93 of Historia scholastica (The 'Ashridge Petrus Comestor'). Written in Latin. The BL... More

Lamentation over the Dead Christ from BL Add 18197, f. K, f. K

Lamentation over the Dead Christ from BL Add 18197, f. K, f. K

Historiated initial 'S' of the Lamentation over the Dead Christ. Image taken from f. K of Cutting from a choir book. Written in Latin.

Peter from BL Add 22310, f. 11 (2)

Peter from BL Add 22310, f. 11 (2)

Historiated initial 'Q' of Peter, with the descender of the letter composed of a foliate extension of acanthus leaves (centre). Image taken from Cutting from a Gradual (sanctorale). Written in Latin.

Fratres mendicantes (Mendicant friars) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 154

Fratres mendicantes (Mendicant friars) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 154

Historiated initial 'F'(ratres) of pope giving charters to representatives of three mendicant Orders, Dominican, Carmelite, and Franciscan. Image taken from f. 154 of Omne Bonum (Ebrietas-Humanus). Written in L... More

Annunciation from BL Add 39636, f. 14, f. 14

Annunciation from BL Add 39636, f. 14, f. 14

Historiated initial 'M' of the Annunciation. Image taken from f. 14 of Cutting from a service book. Written in Latin. The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary... More

Resurrection from BL Eg 1146, f. 202

Resurrection from BL Eg 1146, f. 202

Historiated initial 'A'(lleluia) of the Resurrected Christ, with partial borders of leaves and birds, at the beginning of Matins in the Office of the Resurrection. Image taken from f. 202 of Book of Hours, Use ... More

Detail: Resurrection from BL Arundel 108, f. 10v

Detail: Resurrection from BL Arundel 108, f. 10v

Historiated initial 'R'(esurrexi) with the Resurrection, angels supporting heraldic arms to the left, in a Missal. Image taken from f. 10v of Missal. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was ama... More

Physician from BL Sloane 2435, f. 27v

Physician from BL Sloane 2435, f. 27v

Detail of the historiated initial 'P'(our) with a standing physician and pregnant woman. Image taken from f. 27v of Le Régime du corps (ff. 1-75v); Image du monde (ff. 77-133v). Written in French (Walloon diale... More

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 337

Bust of a bishop from BL Stowe 12, f. 337

Detail of an historiated initial 'D' of a bust of a bishop. Image taken from f. 337 of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'). Written in Latin.

Teacher lecturing to students from BL Harley 3745, f. 1

Teacher lecturing to students from BL Harley 3745, f. 1

Detail of an historiated initial 'P'(ostquam) of a teacher lecturing to a group of students, with a dog chasing its prey into a hole above. Image taken from f. 1 of Medical miscellany, including the Book on Sim... More

Border and Elevation of the Host from BL Add 35254I

Border and Elevation of the Host from BL Add 35254I

Historiated full-page border with the text excised, of the arms (flanked by two hybrid creatures) of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, the Medici device of a diamond ring with three feathers and motto 'Semper', a hal... More

Saint from BL Add 29902, ff. 3a-c, 4a-c, 5a-c, 6a-b, f. 6b

Saint from BL Add 29902, ff. 3a-c, 4a-c, 5a-c, 6a-b, f. 6b

Historiated initial 'C' of Christ, a female saint and musicians. Image taken from f. 6b of Cuttings from a choir book.

Ecclesiastes from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 212v

Ecclesiastes from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 212v

Detail of a historiated Initial 'V'(erba) of Solomon and a young man, at the beginning of Ecclesiastes. Image taken from f. 212v of Bible, with the Interpretation of Hebrew names (imperfect). Written in Latin. ... More

Baptism of Christ from BL Royal 2 B VII, f. 190v

Baptism of Christ from BL Royal 2 B VII, f. 190v

Miniature of the Baptism of Christ, with an historiated initial 'E'(xultate) of David playing the bells, at the beginning of Psalm 80, and a bas-de-page drawing of a unicorn and a lion. Image taken from f. 190v... More

Head of a woman from BL Royal 15 D II, f. 7

Head of a woman from BL Royal 15 D II, f. 7

Detail of an historiated initial 'P'(ur) with the head of a woman, and a grotesque head. Image taken from f. 7 of La lumiere as lais; Apocalypse (the 'Welles Apocalypse'). Written in French. The BL Royal Manus... More

David in penitence from BL YT 6, f. 105

David in penitence from BL YT 6, f. 105

Historiated initial 'D'(omine) with David in penitence, and full foliate border with putti, bird and grotesque, at the beginning of the Penitential Psalms. Image taken from f. 105 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome.... More

Annunciation from BL Harley 2943, ff. 17v-18

Annunciation from BL Harley 2943, ff. 17v-18

Miniature of the Annunciation; historiated initial 'H'(ere) with Virgin and Child shown as the woman of the Apocalypse and foliate borders including John on Patmos and Augustus with the Tiburtine Sibyl, at the ... 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

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

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

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

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

'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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Historiated initial from BL Royal 20 D IX, f. 6

Historiated initial from BL Royal 20 D IX, f. 6

Historiated initial 'L'(I empereres) of Justinian receiving plaintiffs, at the beginning of the Authenticum. Image taken from f. 6 of Authenticum and Tres Libri. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Coll... More

Triumph of Death from BL Harley 5761, f. 29

Triumph of Death from BL Harley 5761, f. 29

Full border with flowers, birds, deer, skulls, coral beads, a marginal vignette of the Triumph of Death, and an historiated initial 'Q'(uesta). Image taken from f. 29 of Trionfi (index Triumphs) (ff. 11-52v); R... More

Historiated initial and border from BL Arundel 220, f. 7

Historiated initial and border from BL Arundel 220, f. 7

Historiated initial 'B'(ritannia) with armed figures in a boat?, and a full border, at the beginning of Gaufridus Monemutensis's Historia Britonum. Image taken from f. 7 of Miscellany of mostly historical texts... More

Historiated initial and borders from BL Harley 2717, f. 1

Historiated initial and borders from BL Harley 2717, f. 1

Historiated initial 'S'(ororem) with a man reading (Terence?), and full border of acanthus and flowers on unpainted ground, with a bird, and an angel holding unidentified arms. Image taken from f. 1 of Comoedia... More

Resurrection from BL YT 34, f. 84

Resurrection from BL YT 34, f. 84

Historiated initial 'F'(ratres) of the Resurrection of Christ, with a partial bar border, at the reading for Easter. Image taken from f. 84 of Epistolary of the Sainte-Chapelle, Use of Paris. Written in Latin. ... More

Resurrection from BL YT 25, f. 1

Resurrection from BL YT 25, f. 1

Historiated initial 'A'(lleluia) of the Resurrection of Christ, and a partial border with animals, including a hare blowing a horn and a monkey with a bow and arrow, a hybrid creature, and birds, in a liturgic... More

Pilate from BL Eg 2781, f. 149v

Pilate from BL Eg 2781, f. 149v

Detail of historiated initial of Pilate washing his hands. Image taken from f. 149v of Book of Hours, Use of Sarum (The 'Neville of Hornby Hours'). Written in Latin and French. The Egerton Manuscript Collectio... More

King and fool from BL Harley 1892, f. 68

King and fool from BL Harley 1892, f. 68

Detail of an historiated initial 'D'(ixit) of a king and fool at the beginning of Psalm 52. Image taken from f. 68 of Various prayers including indulgenced prayers, and Gospel Lessons. Written in Latin. The "B... More

Constellacio (Constellation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 396v

Constellacio (Constellation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 396v

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(onstellacio) of an astrologer observing the sky, and the devil in a circle. Image taken from f. 396v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Ma... More

Adolescens, Adolescencia (Adolescence) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 58v

Adolescens, Adolescencia (Adolescence) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 58v

Detail of a historiated initial 'A'(dolescens) of a young woman with a mirror and a young man. Image taken from f. 58v of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collectio... More

Cor (Heart) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 425v

Cor (Heart) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 425v

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(or) of a man, holding his heart and praying before a crucifix at an altar. Image taken from f. 425v of Omne Bonum (Circumcisio-Dona Spiritui Sancti). Written in Latin. The ... More

Jerome from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 132v

Jerome from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 132v

Detail of an historiated initial 'L'(ibrum) of Jerome giving a book to a boy, at the beginning of the prologue to Esther. Image taken from f. 132v of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with the Gospel of Nicod... More

Siege of Jerusalem from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 222

Siege of Jerusalem from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 222

Detail of an historiated initial 'A'(nno) of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem, at the beginning of Daniel. Image taken from f. 222 of Bible (the 'Big' or 'Great Bible'), with the Gospel of Nicodemus and the ... More

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