Historical Religious Manuscripts

Intricate medieval manuscript pages featuring men and women in prayer, decorative initials, and scenes depicting biblical themes, rich in color and detail.

Noah sends off Dove / Illumination

Men and Women Kneeling in Prayer. Date/Period: Early 1460s. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 256 mm (10.07 in); Width: 173 mm (6.81 in). Author: Willem Vrelant.

Men and Women Kneeling in Prayer. Willem Vrelant (Flemish, died 1481, active 1454 - 1481)

Initial C: Christ in Majesty between the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

A Dove and a Falcon. Unknown

Initial I: Scenes of the Creation of the World and the Crucifixion. Date/Period: Ca. 1270. Folio. Tempera colors, black ink, and gold leaf on parchment. Height: 470 mm (18.50 in); Width: 308 mm (12.12 in). Author: UNKNOWN.

Initial M: The Father and the Son Enthroned. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Noah sends off Dove / Illumination

Initial V: A Bishop and the Dove of the Holy Spirit; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Initial D: A Seated King Pointing to His Eyes; Initial M: David Kneeling Before Christ. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Saints Peter and Paul. Date/Period: Early 1460s. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 256 mm (10.07 in); Width: 173 mm (6.81 in). Author: Workshop of Willem Vrelant.

Initial C: A Priest Holding a Chalice for a Cleric. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Initial T: Clerics, Nobles, and Peasants Standing before a King.

Initial M: An Angel Presenting a Soul to Christ as Judge; Brabant (possibly), Flanders, Belgium; after 1460; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 17.1 x 12.2 cm (6 3,4 x 4 13,16 in.)

Initial P: Saint Peter with a Book. Unknown

Initial T: The Crucifixion; Matteo da Milano (Italian, active 1492 - 1523); Rome, Italy; about 1520; Tempera and gold on parchment; Leaf: 33.6 x 23.4 cm (13 1,4 x 9 3,16 in.)

Initial E: A Man Receiving a Purse from a Jew in Exchange for a Goblet.

Initial O: An Apostle Preaching. Unknown

Initial G: The Virgin Mary Pointing to Books Burning in a Fire. Unknown

Initial C: The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew. Unknown

Initial E: A Saint Holding a Scroll; Initial L: People in Prayer before an Altar. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

The Marriage of Hosea and Gomer in a Historiated Initial V from a Bible 1345-1348 England. Tempera and gold leaf, with gothica textualis inscriptions in Latin in light brown ink, rubrics in red ink, and ruled in light brown ink, on parchment .

Initial S: The Virgin Mary Interceding for a Young Man before Christ Showing his Wounds. Unknown

Initial D: A Man Embracing Christ on the Cross. Unknown

Initial P: Saint Paul Speaking to a Bishop and a Messenger. Unknown

Initial Q: Two Soldiers Leading Two Moors before a King.

Initial D: A Young Man in Prayer. Unknown

The Vision of Candles. Unknown

Saint John Eats the Book Received from the Angel; Unknown; London (probably), England, Europe; about 1255 - 1260; Tempera colors, gold leaf, colored washes, pen and ink on parchment; Leaf: 31.9 x 22.5 cm (12 9/16 x 8 7/8 in.)

Initial D: The Virgin Mary; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Saint Germain as a Bishop. Workshop of the Bedford Master (French, active first half of 15th century)

Pentecost. Date/Period: Early 1460s. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 256 mm (10.07 in); Width: 173 mm (6.81 in). Author: Workshop of Willem Vrelant.

Pentecost. Workshop of Willem Vrelant (Flemish, died 1481, active 1454 - 1481)

Initial P: A Prophet Holding a Scroll. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Initial G: The First Steps of Jesus. Unknown

Initial D: A Kneeling Saint in Prayer; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Pentecost and Christ Carrying the Cross Published 1490-1510 France. This leaf from a book of hours was printed on vellum (a thin piece of prepared animal skin) and then illuminated and gilded to resemble more expensive devotional manuscripts produced entirely by hand. This page includes several different prayers. The opaque blue pigment coloring the accompanying miniatures obscures most of the printed background. Christ appears iconic and alone in the lower image, as if meditating on his upcoming death, rather than forcing his way through a hostile crowd. In the upper woodcut, the Holy Spirit descends upon the Virgin Mary and the apostles in the form of a glittering dove.. Hand-colored woodcuts, with gilding and letterpress, on vellum . Unknown artist

Initial O: An Apostle Preaching; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Apostle Simon / Illumination / 1310

Miniature of the Crucifixion, with erased coat of arms of first owner.. Bourdichon, Jean, 1457-1521. 1490 - 1510. text. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division. Jesus Christ , Crucifixion

Initial D: The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew. Unknown

Initial D: David and Christ. Unknown

Initial C: A Monk, possibly Franciscan, Preaching from a Pulpit. Unknown

Initial M: The Virgin and Child with a Saint. Unknown

Initial E: David Praying. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Historiated initial of the Nativity; border includes a moth, as well as the side view of a pink rose, whose design originates in engraved playing cards.. 1440 - 1460. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division. Flowers, Jesus Christ , Nativity

Initial G: The Visitation. Unknown

The Lord Enthroned with Angels; Two Seraphim; Two Kneeling Angels in Prayer; A Man Kneeling; The Flagellation. Unknown

Initial B: A Deacon Carrying a Book. Unknown

Initial E: Saint Lucy; Initial M: Saint Thomas; Initial D: Saint Thomas Preaching. Master of the Brussels Initials (Italian, active about 1389 - 1410)

Initial D: A Youth Handing a Crown to David. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Initial F: Three Men and a Child before a Judge and Three Men and a Child before an Altar.

The Seneschal Keu and a Knight before King Mark. Unknown

Saint Anthony with an Ax. Workshop of the Bedford Master (French, active first half of 15th century)

BIBLIA MOZARABE DEL 920 - FOL 201V - ESCENAS DE LA VIDA DE JESUS. Author: VIMARA JUAN. Location: CATEDRAL-ARCHIVO. LEON. SPAIN. ANGEL OF THE ANNUNCIATION. VIRGIN MARY.

Initial D: The Nativity; Initial V: A Monk in Prayer; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Scenes from the book of Exodus, fol. 40r. 1390. Manuscripts, Illuminations. Spencer Collection. Moses (Biblical leader)

Annunciation to Joseph. Master of Cardinal Bourbon (French, about 1480 - 1500)

Initial D: The Flight into Egypt. Unknown

The Ascension; Initial V: Two Apostles. Master of the Brussels Initials (Italian, active about 1389 - 1410)

Initial L: Saint Anthony Appearing to Bishop Theophilus and Leading Him to His Hermitage. Master of the Brussels Romuléon or workshop (Flemish, active about 1465)

Initial C: Clerics Singing from a Choir Book; Paris, France; about 1320 - 1325; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 16.7 x 11.1 cm (6 9,16 x 4 3,8 in.)

Initial I: The Lord Enthroned with the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Circle of Stefan Lochner (German, died 1451)

Manuscript Illumination with Initial V, from a Bible ca. 1175-95 French This initial comes from a five-volume Bible, imposing in size and vigorously decorated, that belonged to the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny. In the twelfth century this monastery in the diocese of Sens was a scholar's haven and a place of refuge for Thomas Becket before his martyrdom. During the French Revolution, however, the monastery's celebrated library was confiscated and neglected. The initial and another from the same Bible (acc. no. 1999.364.1) remarkably, have survived. Their preservation is due in large part to the nineteenth-century book publishers who recognized their extraordinarily accomplished design. The initial signaled the opening of the Book of Leviticus: Vocavit autem Moysen, et locutus est di Dominus de tabernaculo (And the Lord called Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle). In lieu of gold or figural imagery, which were eschewed by the Cistercian order, the letter represents a bold palette

Esther a. Ahasver / Illumination

Initial I: Christ the Good Shepherd with Birds. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Athaliah, Queen of Judah, Dragged from the Temple. Boucicaut Master or workshop (French, active about 1390 - 1430)

John Commanded to Write and the Blessed Dead; London (probably), England; about 1255 - 1260; Tempera colors, gold leaf, colored washes, pen and ink on parchment; Leaf: 31.9 x 22.5 cm (12 9,16 x 8 7,8 in.)

Initial S: Saint John the Evangelist with a Book; Initial S: Saint John the Evangelist with a Book. Unknown

Initial P: Saint Paul Giving a Letter to a Bishop. Unknown

Initial O: The Angel of Saint Matthew Holding Up His Gospel. Master of the Brussels Initials (Italian, active about 1389 - 1410)

Saul Ordering David's Death. Unknown

Initial P: Saint Peter and the Conversion of Saint Paul. Master of the Dresden Prayer Book or workshop (Flemish, active about 1480 - 1515)

Initial O: A Prophet Instructing a Woman with a Mirror. Unknown

Saint John Praying to the Angel. Date/Period: Ca. 1255 - 1260. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, colored washes, pen and ink on parchment. Height: 319 mm (12.55 in); Width: 225 mm (8.85 in). Author: UNKNOWN.

Initial D: The Virgin. Unknown

Initial C: A Man Praying. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Initial L: God Speaking to Moses; Circle of Stefan Lochner (German, died 1451); Cologne, Germany; about 1450; Gold leaf, tempera, and black ink on parchment; Leaf: 36.7 x 26 cm (14 7,16 x 10 1,4 in.)

Initial D: Christ before Caiaphas; Initial D: The Virgin Mary with Apostles; Northeastern France, France; about 1300; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.3 cm (10 3,8 x 7 3,16 in.)

Initial M: Nathan Revealing the Lamb to David. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

The Horseman "Faithful and True" and the Army of Heaven on White Horses and the Horseman in the Winepress. Unknown

Persides in his Tent with a Servant of Tristan. Unknown

Initial P: Saint Paul Giving Two Men a Scroll. Unknown

Rebuilding of the Temple / Illumination

MISAL RICO DEL CARDENAL CISNEROS - VIRGEN CON NIÑO,SAN PEDRO,SAN JUAN BAUTISTA,MARTIRES Y SANTOS - SIGLO XVI. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION, MADRID, SPAIN.

Leaf from a Missal with Two Historiated Initials: Initial Per omnia saecula saeculorum (A Priest Celebrates Mass) and Initial Vere dignum et iustum est (Ecclesia and Synagogue), c. 1300. France, Beauvais, late 13th-early 14th Century. Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum; sheet: 28.5 x 20 cm (11 1/4 x 7 7/8 in.). This leaf and others are known to survive from a magnificent missal made for the use of Beauvais Cathedral. The two large decorated initials illustrate the preface to the Canon of the Mass.

Saint James as a Pilgrim and Saint Philip with an Ax. Workshop of the Bedford Master (French, active first half of 15th century)

Saints Peter and Paul; Master of Jacques de Besançon (French, active about 1480 - 1500); Paris, France; about 1500; Tempera colors, ink and gold on parchment; Leaf: 13.3 x 8.7 cm (5 1,4 x 3 7,16 in.)

Decorated Initial M. Unknown

Initial M: Two Men Kneeling in Prayer, One Crowned by the Hand of God. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Descent from the Cross; Master of Cardinal Bourbon (French, about 1480 - 1500); Paris, France; about 1500; Tempera colors, ink and gold on parchment; Leaf: 13.3 x 8.7 cm (5 1,4 x 3 7,16 in.)

Saints Peter and Paul. Master of Jacques de Besançon (French, active about 1480 - 1500)

Initial C: Solomon Sacrificing in the Tabernacle. Unknown

Cain and Abel Offering Gifts. Date/Period: Ca. 1360 - 1370. Folio. Tempera colors, gold, and ink on parchment. Height: 349 mm (13.74 in); Width: 260 mm (10.23 in). Author: Master of Jean de Mandeville.

Initial capital letter with St Eusebius the Bishop of Vercelli, miniature from a missal, manuscript, ca 1180, Italy.

The Virgin and Child. Date/Period: Ca. 1450 - 1455. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 194 mm (7.63 in); Width: 140 mm (5.51 in). Author: Master of the Lee Hours.

Initial Q: The Emir Lucion Being Dragged to the Gallows.

God Speaking to Joel. Master of Jean de Mandeville (French, active 1350 - 1370)

Initial C: Solomon Sacrificing in the Tabernacle; Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; about 1280 - 1290; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 37.5 x 24.8 cm (14 3,4 x 9 3,4 in.)

Moses Changing the Water of the Nile into Blood.

Opening miniature (four Evangelists) and opening of main text. Border designs, initial, rubric.. 1400 - 1499. text. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division. Borders (Ornament Areas), Evangelists (Bible)

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