Historiated initial from a choirbook

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V&A South Kensington
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E

Place of origin

Netherlands (made)

Germany (made)

Cut-out historiated initial T with bishop and two acolytes in the act of aspersion.

Object details

Categories	Manuscript Cutting Manuscripts Medieval and Renaissance Music Christianity
Object type	Manuscript cutting
Title	Historiated initial from a choirbook
Materials and techniques	Parchment Pigments Ink Illumination Writing
Brief description	Cut-out historiated initial T from a Choirbook (bishop and two acolytes in the act of aspersion); Netherlands; ca 1350. A duplicate number MS.45 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled.
Physical description	Cut-out historiated initial T with bishop and two acolytes in the act of aspersion.
Dimensions	Height: 102mm Width: 121mm
Production type	Unique
Gallery label	Fragmented Illuminations: Medieval and Renaissance Manuscript Cuttings at the V&A, 08/09/2021 - 26/06/2022, rooms 88A-90 Sir John Charles Robinson (1824–1913) As the first curator of the Museum of Ornamental Art (which later became the V&A), J.C. Robinson indulged his passion for Renaissance art and collecting. In the 1850s, he undertook yearly ‘shopping’ expeditions to Europe. Robinson bought these initials in Bonn, Germany in 1858. The cut-out border ornaments, however, were purchased from London booksellers Thomas and William Boone in 1866. Many cuttings were circulated to art schools as part of an educational scheme headed by the museum. Initials ‘B’, ‘D’, ‘N’, ‘O’, ‘S’ and ‘T’ showing saints and scenes from the life of Christ, from a choirbook Netherlands, about 1350 Ink and watercolour on parchment Museum nos. 4013, 4014, 4017, 4018, 4020, 4021
Object history	Purchased from Kruchen in Bonn in 1858, together with 11 other initials from the same manuscript (now Museum nos 4011-4022). Recorded in the Register of Drawings as 'Italian, 14th century'. Cuttings from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: Museum nos 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015, 4016, 4017, 4018, 4019, 4020, 4021, 4022.
Associated objects	4011 (Object) 4012 (Object) 4013 (Object) 4014 (Object) 4015 (Object) 4016 (Object) 4017 (Object) 4018 (Object) 4019 (Object) 4020 (Object) 4022 (Object)
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. 13 (as Netherlandish, 14th century).
Collection	Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number	4021

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Record created	June 30, 2009
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1012817/historiated-initial-from-a-choirbook-manuscript-cutting/

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