God the Father presents the Crucified Christ and Pentecost, two historiated initials from a Choirbook, in Latin [southern Germany, late 15th century]

two cuttings, vellum, a) 81x85mm, initial 'G', the reverse with remains of music and text on two four-line red staves, rastrum 20mm, slightly rubbed, small pigment loss to blue ground, in good condition; b) 78x74mm, initial 'S', the reverse with remains of text and music on one five-line red stave, rastrum 25mm, slightly rubbed, lead white partly oxidised, in good condition

Both cuttings are painted by the same hand and share similar designs for the initials. The use of a five-line stave on the reverse of Pentecost as opposed to the four-line staves on the reverse of God the Father and Christ may be explained as an addition by the same scribe. Most remarkable is the very fine modelling, the subtle sense of space, and the rich colour scheme with intense gold, blue, red and green, contrasting with very pale blue. Despite these characteristics, it is difficult to place the artist: the detailed depiction of God the Father who presents the Crucified Christ shows the influence of Flemish art, but the initial with Pentecost evokes associations with French illumination, notably in the light and airy atmosphere which surrounds the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.