Cut-out four sided border from a missal made for Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, attributed to Matteo da Milano, Italy (Rome), ca 1513-1523.

Cut-out four-sided border, left side a [fountain] design and a vignette lettered "Iulius Medici S Car" ; right side a vignette with Zacharias portrait; top with vignette lettered "Ioannes est nomen eius" and arms (Or, 5 gold balls, blue ball with 3 fleur-de-lys) surmounted by a cardinal's hat in lower margin supported by two cherubs.

From a missal made for Cardinal Giulio de' Medici before he became pope Clement VII: his name and arms in the border (Or, 5 gold balls, blue ball with 3 fleur-de-lys). Corresponds to A.II.18 in the Sistine Sacristy Inventory of 1714 (see Eze 2010 p. 483 and de Laurentiis 2011), described as ‘Un Messale, con l’arme del Cardinale de Medici, coperto de corame rosso, senza fibie, con doi cocchie d’archimia dove sone sei messe videlicet / Sps. santi cois. /Penthecostes / Corpus Christi / Joanis Baptista / Johannis evangelistae / Defunctorum. / Hora nela coperta di curamo / et l’arme de Julio 3.’
Collection of Frédéric Spitzer (1815-1890): his sale, 17 April 1893, lot 3283. Collection of George Salting: acquired with the George Salting Bequest in 1910 (no. 2131).
Cuttings from the same manuscript in other collections: London, British Library, Add. MS 35254, cutting I; Philadelphia, Free Library, Lewis E M 46 13.

Distinctive forms of ornament were developed in Italy at the end of the 15th century. Classical motifs were copied from ancient Roman remains. They include designs based on tall candelabra with vases and cameo busts. Roundels with portraits or devices (heraldic emblems) were inserted in margins and at the top and bottom of pages.

E.4579-1910