Skip to page contents

Gallery

Illuminated Initials

Many medieval manuscripts are full of decorated capital letters that come in all styles and sizes. But what was their purpose? To learn, read: https://www.europeana.eu/blog/lighting-the-way-how-illuminated-initials-guided-medieval-readers-through-books

Curated by

Published gallery

St. Stephen I (pope)

Master of the Modena Book of Hours

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

A Levite sacrificing

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

St. Hildegundis

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

Saint Ambroise, bust, in the letter D

Ministry of Culture

Moses holding the Tables of the Law

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

A male saint (St. Philip?) holding a lance or spear

Master Azor, follower

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

The Crucifixion, with Mary and St. John

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

St. Fabian, Bishop of Rome, holding a book and St. Sebastian holding a book

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

The historiated letter B, with Saint Michael fighting the dragon

Ministry of Culture

Christ calling André and Simon in an initial A

Ministry of Culture

Biblia S. Novi Testamenti Cum Interpretatione S. Hieronymi Nominum Hebraicorum

Unknown

National Library of Romania

Bern, Burgerbibliothek, Cod. 3 : Biblia latina (Vulgata), Part 1: Genesis to Psalms

Augustinus, Aurelius

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

St. Michael holding a sword and scales

Master of the Modena Book of Hours

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

The Nativity: Mary lies in bed, St. Joseph holds the Christ-child

KB, National Library of the Netherlands

Unknown

University of Edinburgh

Breviary, circa 1300

Unknown

University of Edinburgh

David playing the harp

KB, National Library of the Netherlands