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Decorated initial thumbnail 2
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Decorated initial

Manuscript Cutting
1500-1530 (made)
Place of origin
Flanders (made)

Other side not visible. Mounted onto card.

Object details

Categories
Manuscripts
Manuscript Cutting
Medieval and Renaissance
Object type
Manuscript cutting
TitleDecorated initial
Brief description
Decorated initial O from a manuscript, Flanders, early 16th century.
Physical description
Other side not visible. Mounted onto card.
Dimensions
  • Height: 102mm
  • Width: 108mm
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
Fragmented Illuminations: Medieval and Renaissance Manuscript Cuttings at the V&A, 08/09/2021 - 26/06/2022, rooms 88A-90



Samuel Rogers (1763–1855)

The poet Samuel Rogers assembled a much-admired
art collection, which became one of London’s prime
attractions. It was so vast that when he died, the sale
went on for nineteen days. Ranging from antiquities
to paintings and sculpture, ancient and modern, it
comprised 327 ‘illuminated miniatures’, including these
initials, which shine like colourful jewels. The museum
bought them in 1869 for £12 (about £750 today), a high
price that was certainly determined by the fame of
their previous owner.



Twenty-three initials, from an unidentified manuscript
Flanders (now Belgium), about 1500–30
Ink, gold, watercolour and bodycolour on parchment

Museum nos. 7079:1-13 and 7080:1-10
Object history
Formerly in the collection of Samuel Rogers: his sale, Christie and Manson, London, 28 April 1856 and following days, lot 992 (24 initials). Purchased by the South Kensington Museum on 18 February 1869 from Mr J.M. Whitehead, together with 22 other cuttings from the same manuscript mounted on two sheets (now 7079:1-13 and 7080:1-10), for the total sum of £12.0.0 (information from Register of Drawings).
A duplicate number MS.85 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled.

Cuttings from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: 7079:1, 7079:2, 7079:3, 7079:4, 7079:5, 7079:6, 7079:7, 7079:8, 7079:9, 7079:10, 7079:11, 7079:12, 7079:13, 7080:1, 7080:2, 7080:3, 7080:4, 7080:5, 7080:6, 7080:7, 7080:8, 7080:9, 7080:10.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Catalogue of Miniatures, Leaves, and Cuttings from Illuminated Manuscripts. Victoria and Albert Museum. Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, by S.C. Cockerell and C. Harcourt Smith (London: HMSO, 1923, 2nd edition). p. 15.
Other number
85 - Cancelled number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
7080:10

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1012608/decorated-initial-manuscript-cutting/
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