Manuscript Miniature of Christ and the Saints, on vellum [Italian, c. 1380]

Christ and All Saints: a historiated initial on a cutting from an illuminated choirbook, manuscript on vellum,

[Tuscany, c. 1270-1275]

a cutting, 105 × 89 mm, framed such that the reverse is not visible, the initial 'G' depicting Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary and St Peter, and a crown of other saints, probably from chant beginning 'Gaudeamus omnes in domino', continuing on the verso with '[colla]udant fi[lium]', for the feast of All Saints

The general style, and especially the palette dominated by orange and two shades of blue, is clearly derived from Bologna and dates from the period between the thirteenth century's two main currents, known respectively as the primo and secondo stile (see Alessando Conti, La miniatura bolognese: scuole e botteghe 1270–1340 (Alfa, 1981); but rather than pointing to Bologna itself, this seems to be a version of the style as it spread to Tuscany, and may be compared to the books made for Santa Maria Novella, Florence, and the Duomo of Arezzo.

[together with:]

Pentecost, an illuminated miniature on a leaf from a printed Book of Hours [France, probably Paris, early 16th century], the text comprising Matins in the Hours of the Holy Spirit and the rubric for Prime; the large miniature on the recto is interesting for the fact that the artist has ignored and painted over many of the details of the printed composition including the colonnade behind the figures; the verso with metalcut border scenes