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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

God from BL Harley 2803, f. 6v - Public domain medieval manuscript

God from BL Harley 2803, f. 6v - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of face of God, from an historiated initial at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 6v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley M... More

Isaiah from BL Harley 2803, f. 176

Isaiah from BL Harley 2803, f. 176

Detail of an historiated initial 'V'(isio) with Isaiah holding a scroll, at the beginning of Isaiah. Image taken from f. 176 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in La... More

Longinus from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 46v

Longinus from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 46v

Detail of an historiated initial 'M' of Longinus knocking down idols. Image taken from f. 46v of Lives of the Saints. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, ... More

John the Evangelist from BL Stowe 12, f. 103

John the Evangelist from BL Stowe 12, f. 103

Detail of an historiated initial 'D'(ominica) of a portrait of a man, perhaps John the Evangelist, at the beginning of a reading for Rogation Sunday, with the text of John 16:23. Image taken from f. 103 of Brev... More

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3647, f. 55

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3647, f. 55

Historiated initial 'G'(eometrie) with a man teaching, a bar-border sprouting with foliage, a hybrid creature and a cock, at the beginning of Robertus Anglicus of Montpellier, 'Tractatus quadrantis veteris'. Im... More

Excommunicatio (Excommunication) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 75v

Excommunicatio (Excommunication) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 75v

Detail of a historiated initial 'E'(xcommunicatio) of a priest excommunicating a group of people by raising a candle. Image taken from f. 75v of Omne Bonum (Ebrietas-Humanus). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Ma... More

Resurrection from BL YT 25, f. 1

Resurrection from BL YT 25, f. 1

Detail of an historiated initial 'A'(lleluia) of the Resurrection of Christ, from a liturgical text for Easter with musical notation. Image taken from f. 1 of Leaf from a Dominican Antiphoner (index antiphoner,... More

John from BL Add 22310, ff. 1-9, f. 6v

John from BL Add 22310, ff. 1-9, f. 6v

Historiated initial 'F' of John the Baptist. Image taken from f. 6v of Leaves from an Antiphoner (index antiphonal, antiphonary). Written in Latin.

Battle from BL YT 12, f. 109 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Battle from BL YT 12, f. 109 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of an historiated initial 'C'(ourars) of a battle between Imperial knights and Saracen cavalry. Image taken from f. 109 of Histoire d'Outremer, continued to 1232. Written in French. Henry Yates Thompson... More

Beheading of John the Baptist from BL Add 18197, ff. A and H, f. A

Beheading of John the Baptist from BL Add 18197, ff. A and H, f. A

Historiated initial 'O' of the beheading of John the Baptist. Image taken from f. A of Cuttings from a choir book. Written in Latin.

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

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

Historiated initial 'M' of two saints, measuring 105 x 100 mm. Image taken from f. 28 of Cuttings from a Dominican choir book.

Monks singing from BL Harley 2909, f. 87

Monks singing from BL Harley 2909, f. 87

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(antate) of monks singing at a lecturn, at Psalm 97: 'Cantate domino canticum novum' / 'Sing to the Lord a new song', and a full border with acanthus motifs and sprays. Image ... More

Peter from BL Lansdowne 451, f. 219

Peter from BL Lansdowne 451, f. 219

Detail of historiated initial of Peter. Image taken from f. 219 of Pontifical; Tabula. Written in Latin.

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

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

Detail of a historiated initial 'D' of the Adoration of the Magi, at the beginning of Sext in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 2 of Leaves and bifolia from a Book of Hours, containing text for the e... More

Henry VII receiving the book from BL Royal 19 C VIII, f. 1

Henry VII receiving the book from BL Royal 19 C VIII, f. 1

Historiated initial 'A'(vous) of Henry VII receiving the book from the writer, with a partial trompe l'oeil border, including flowers and a bear. Image taken from f. 1 of Imaginacion de vraye noblesse. Written ... More

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3496, f. 208v

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3496, f. 208v

Historiated initial 'Q'(uando) with the Triumph of Chastity. Image taken from f. 208v of Trionfi (index Triumphs). Written in Italian. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts ... More

Presentation of the text from BL Harley 7182, f. 1

Presentation of the text from BL Harley 7182, f. 1

Historiated initial with a portrait of Jacobus Angelus presenting to Pope Alexander V a copy of his translation of Ptolomy's ~Geography~. The pope's face has been deliberately effaced. Image taken from f. 1 of ... More

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3487, f. 140v

Historiated initial from BL Harley 3487, f. 140v

Detail of an historiated initial 'P'. Image taken from f. 140v of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in th... More

Detail: Jerome and pope Damasus from BL YT 22, f. 1

Detail: Jerome and pope Damasus from BL YT 22, f. 1

Historiated initial 'F'(rater) with Jerome and pope Damasus, at the beginning of the Bible. Image taken from f. 1 of Bible ('The Brantwood Bible'). Written in Latin. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a Brit... More

Maria Mater Dei Virgo (Virgin Mary Mother of God) from BL Royal 6 E VII, f. 487v

Maria Mater Dei Virgo (Virgin Mary Mother of God) from BL Royal 6 E VI...

Detail of a historiated initial 'M'(aria) of the Annunciation following the instruction for an illuminator reading 'salut[acio]' in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 487v of Omne Bonum (Jacob-Zacharias). Wr... More

Angel and saint from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. 37

Angel and saint from BL Add 18196, ff. 14-22, and 28-40, f. 37

Historiated initial 'N' of an angel and a saint, measuring 95 x 75 mm. Image taken from f. 37 of Cuttings from a Dominican choir book.

Archers from BL YT 12, f. 204 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Archers from BL YT 12, f. 204 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of an historiated initial 'O' of archers assaulting a city, and text. Image taken from f. 204 of Histoire d'Outremer, continued to 1232. Written in French. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British... More

Historiated initial from BL YT 27, ff. 70v-71

Historiated initial from BL YT 27, ff. 70v-71

Double-page with a historiated initial 'A'(d) with a monkey standing on a dog, and full borders, in the Book of Hours. Image taken from ff. 70v-71 of Book of Hours, Use of Paris ('The Hours of Yolande of Flande... More

Full border from BL Harley 4920, f. 1

Full border from BL Harley 4920, f. 1

Full border with rinceaux decoration, foliate motifs, and birds, with the coat of arms of Petrus de Foix, supported by two angels, and the historiated initial 'E'(go) with a man at a lecturn. Image taken from f... More

Abishag from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 79

Abishag from BL Royal 1 E IX, f. 79

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 Latin. The ... More

Contemplacio (Contemplation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 409v

Contemplacio (Contemplation) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 409v

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(ontemplacio) of a man praying before a crucifix on an altar. Image taken from f. 409v of Omne Bonum (Circumcisio-Dona Spiritui Sancti). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manus... More

Adventus domini secundus (Second coming of Christ) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 57

Adventus domini secundus (Second coming of Christ) from BL Royal 6 E V...

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(irca) of Christ on a rainbow and the resurrection of the dead. Image taken from f. 57 of Omne Bonum (Absolucio-Circumcisio). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collec... More

Confessio (Confession) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 354v

Confessio (Confession) from BL Royal 6 E VI, f. 354v

Detail of a historiated initial 'C'(onfessio) of a cleric hearing a confession. Image taken from f. 354v of Omne Bonum (Circumcisio-Dona Spiritui Sancti). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection,... More

Detail from BL Eg 1865, f. 36 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail from BL Eg 1865, f. 36 - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of historiated initial of a man holding a book. Image taken from f. 36 of Genealogia deorum gentilium. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton ... 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

Poisoning of John the Evangelist from BL Add 32058, f. 2 (b), f. 2 (b)

Poisoning of John the Evangelist from BL Add 32058, f. 2 (b), f. 2 (b)

Historiated initial 'V' of the Poisoning of John the Evangelist, with four men kneeling before the saint who drinks from a chalice of poisoned wine. Image taken from f. 2 (b) of Cutting from a choir book. Writt... More

Christ Disputing with the Merchants from BL Add 18196, f. 49, f. 49

Christ Disputing with the Merchants from BL Add 18196, f. 49, f. 49

Historiated initial 'D' or 'O' of Christ Disputing with the Merchants. The robe of the figure to the right is inscribed 'A. P. S. VITV. SI?S'. Image taken from f. 49 of Cutting from an Antiphoner (index antipho... More

King Edward III from BL Harley 5233, f. 11

King Edward III from BL Harley 5233, f. 11

Historiated initial with king Edward III (r. 1327-1377) combined with a full foliate bar border at the beginning of his statutes. Image taken from f. 11 of Nova Statuta (index Statuta Angliae, Statute book, Sta... More

God blessing from BL Lansdowne 437, f. 1

God blessing from BL Lansdowne 437, f. 1

Historiated initial of God blessing, at the beginning of the prologue. Image taken from f. 1 of Bible. Written in Latin.

Historiated initial from BL Burn 279, ff. 121v-122

Historiated initial from BL Burn 279, ff. 121v-122

Historiated initial 'I'(n) divided into five niches, each containing a seated figure, at the beginning of the Codex Justinianus of Justinian's Corpus iuris civilis. At the top is a crowned figure, representing... More

Historiated initial and border from BL Harley 3510, f. 2

Historiated initial and border from BL Harley 3510, f. 2

Historiated initial 'M'(aecenas) with Horace, bust-length, at the beginning of the text and full decorated border with foliate decoration, flowers, besants, birds, a vase, winged putti, a wreath enclosing the M... More

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

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

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

Historiated initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 148

Historiated initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 148

Detail: historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book f... More

Lactantius from BL Harley 3057, f. 5v

Lactantius from BL Harley 3057, f. 5v

Detail of historiated initial 'M'(agno) with author portrait (Lactantius) at the beginning of the text. Image taken from f. 5v of Divinae institutiones (ff. 5v-108); De ira Dei (ff. 108v-118); De opificio Dei (... More

Nureddin, Sultan of Damascus from BL YT 12, f. 132

Nureddin, Sultan of Damascus from BL YT 12, f. 132

Historiated initial 'R'(eines) with a mail-coated Nureddin, the Sultan of Damascus, with bare legs and an open helmet, fleeing on horseback with a foal underfoot from two knights (Godfrey Martel and Hugh de Lu... More

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

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

Historiated initial 'O' of Christ before Caiaphas. Image taken from f. 45 of Cuttings from a choir book.

John from BL Add 69865, f. 1v - Public domain dedication image

John from BL Add 69865, f. 1v - Public domain dedication image

Historiated initial 'I' of the eagle symbol of John, extension of acanthus-like foliage and bezants with single hair-line embellishment, at the beginning of a Gospel extract from John 1:1-14. Image taken from f... More

John the Baptist from BL Stowe 12, f. 257

John the Baptist from BL Stowe 12, f. 257

Detail of an historiated initial 'D' of John the Baptist, holding the Agnus Dei. Image taken from f. 257 of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'). Written in Latin.

Assumption of the Virgin from BL Add 39636, f. 1, f. 1

Assumption of the Virgin from BL Add 39636, f. 1, f. 1

Historiated initial 'O' of the Assumption of the Virgin. The Madonna, seated in a mandorla supported by four angels, gives her girdle to Thomas. In the foreground are the other eleven Apostles. Image taken from... More

Detail of Christ blessing a layman from BL Add 52539, f. 11v

Detail of Christ blessing a layman from BL Add 52539, f. 11v

Detail of a historiated initial ?'A' of Christ enthroned blessing a kneeling layman, at the beginning of the Carthusian prayer cycle. Image taken from f. 11v of Leaf from a Book of Hours, containing part of the... More

Rabbis at Benei Braq from BL Add 14761, f. 31v

Rabbis at Benei Braq from BL Add 14761, f. 31v

Historiated initial-word panel: ~Ma'aseh~, at the beginning of the account of the five rabbis at Benei Braq. The five rabbis are in the windows of a building; their pupils are knocking on the door. Full foliate... More

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