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Historiated initial from a choirbook

Manuscript Cutting
ca. 1350 (made)
Place of origin
Netherlands (made)
Germany (made)

Cut-out historiated initial D with birth of St. John the Baptist.

Object details

Categories
Manuscript Cutting
Manuscripts
Christianity
Music
Medieval and Renaissance
Object type
Manuscript cutting
TitleHistoriated initial from a choirbook
Materials and techniques
Parchment
Ink
Pigments
Illumination
Brief description
Cut-out historiated initial D from a Choirbook (birth of St John the Baptist); Netherlands; ca 1350. A duplicate number MS.41 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled.
Physical description
Cut-out historiated initial D with birth of St. John the Baptist.
Dimensions
  • Height: 105mm
  • Width: 114mm
Production typeUnique
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
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
4014

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1012824/historiated-initial-from-a-choirbook-manuscript-cutting/
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