[ENLUMINURE]. [CHOIR BOOK].
Ornate initial I.
Tempera, gouache and gold leaf on parchment. Italy, Lucca (?), circa 1475 (?). Dimensions: 135 x 244 mm Minor loss of pigments (especially the green), some chipping. This large initial I is reminiscent of the style of historiated initials associated with Lucca Cathedral. There are two fragments preserved at Oberlin College, donated by Robert Lehmann, which are thought to come from a volume in the series of antiphonaries commissioned by Stefano Trenta, bishop of Lucca from 1448 to 1477. The artist responsible for the Oberlin College initials was also involved in two other volumes (commun des saints and sanctoral) housed in Lucca's Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (MS 2 and MS 6). This artist has been associated with the production of Lucca artists of the third quarter of the 15th century, such as Baldassare di Biagio and Matteo Civitali (see R. Massagli, in Seil et Silva (dir.), Lucca città d'arte e i suoi archivi, Venice, 2001. See also P. Palldino, Treasures of a Lost Art, New York, 2003, nos. 83a and 83b.
Expert: Ariane Adeline
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.