Historiated initial M from a choirbook showing three Jews about to throw stones at Christ, Lombardy (probably Milan), c.1430s.

Historiated initial 'M' from a choirbook showing three Jews about to stone Christ, in a courtyard.
Other side not visible. Mounted onto card.

Unique

Believed to have belonged to William Young Ottley and to be included in his sale, Sotheby's London, 11 May 1838, lot 44 (Kidd 2020) or lot 46 (see Palladino 2003, p. 107 n. 1). Purchased by the South Kensington Museum from Charles Fairfax Murray in 1894 as part of a group of cuttings (now Museum nos 799-1894 to 817-1894) for the total sum of £190 10s 10d.
A duplicate number MS.991 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled.

Other cuttings from the same choirbook or set of choirbooks include Cleveland, Museum of Art, no. 24.431; Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 95 (formerly New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection (see Palladino 2003, no. 52a); New York, The Morgan Library and Museum, M558D; and Private collection (formerly New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Lehman Collection (see Palladino 2003, no. 52b).

The large size of this initial indicates that it came from a choir book, a book designed to be used in church and to be sung from by a choir. Such books included decorated and historiated initials, depicting saints and key events of the liturgical year.
Based on its iconography, this initial probably belonged to the Passion of Christ narrative leading up to Easter Sunday, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.

809-1894