A historiated and a decorated initial from illuminated manuscripts, on vellum [France and Italy, early sixteenth century]

two cuttings, comprising: (a) large cutting from an Antiphonary, 223mm. by 171mm., historiated initial ‘P’ (opening the introit for Mass on Christmas Day) in pink with white penwork decoration on a burnished gold ground, enclosing the Nativity of Christ, surrounded by three kneeling angels, the Virgin in prayer on the left and the standing Joseph holding a candle on the right, in a large stable with a roaring ox and a braying ass, reverse with text and music on three 4-line red staves, rastrum 35mm., illumination rubbed with small creases and pigment losses, northern France (Paris), early sixteenth century, in a card mount; (b) large cutting from a Choirbook, 195mm. by 195mm., decorated initial ‘V’ in blue and yellow formed of acanthus and a dolphin’s head, enclosing a mask with cornucopia, fruit and satyrs in pink, blue and green on a gold ground, rubbed with small creases and pigment losses, Italy, early sixteenth century, framed

Item (a) was owned by Henri de Faucigny-Lucinge (1831-99) of London and Paris, collector of Old Master drawings: his small stamp with the initials "FL" at the lower centre of the landscape (Lugt 3483). Another historiated initial with David and Goliath, offered together with this cutting by Maggs, Cat.1298, 2001, nos.49-50, was probably from the same parent manuscript.