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Initial Word Collection

"Initial Word: A Journey Through Illuminated Letters and Borders" Step back in time to the 14th century with Peter IV of Aragon's ceremonial dagger

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Page from a Pythagorean manuscript translated by the humanist Marsilio Ficino (Marsilio Ficino)

Page from a Pythagorean manuscript translated by the humanist Marsilio Ficino (Marsilio Ficino)
BEN5464413 Page from a Pythagorean manuscript translated by the humanist Marsilio Ficino (Marsilio Ficino) the Florentine (1433-1499), ms. plut. 21. 8, c. 85 v

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Decorated lettering with Saint John the Baptist holding the lamb, 15th century (miniature)

Decorated lettering with Saint John the Baptist holding the lamb, 15th century (miniature)
AIS5391472 Decorated lettering with Saint John the Baptist holding the lamb, 15th century (miniature); Archivo de la Corona de Aragon, Barcelona

Background imageInitial Word Collection: 'Deal of the incarnation against Nestorius' (De Incarnatione Domini contra Nestorium)

"Deal of the incarnation against Nestorius" (De Incarnatione Domini contra Nestorium)
AIS5361697 "Deal of the incarnation against Nestorius" (De Incarnatione Domini contra Nestorium) (Nestorianism (of Patriarch Nestorius or Nestorios) by John Cassian (Joannes Cassianus)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: ' Comment must be held a pregnant woman ' Miniature taken from a medical deal by Aldebrando da

" Comment must be held a pregnant woman " Miniature taken from a medical deal by Aldebrando da Firenze
AIS5368041 " Comment must be held a pregnant woman " Miniature taken from a medical deal by Aldebrando da Firenze. 1356 Folio 47r. Lisbon. Biblioteca National da Ajudah.; © Iberfoto

Background imageInitial Word Collection: By Oratore by Cicero, 1468 (print)

By Oratore by Cicero, 1468 (print)
7415657 By Oratore by Cicero, 1468 (print); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; (add.info.: Cicero (106-43 BC) From Oratore Printed by Ulrich Han Ulrich Han is probably part of the first circle of

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Letter with portrait of the Grand Master of the Order of Jerusalem, 1385 (illumination)

Letter with portrait of the Grand Master of the Order of Jerusalem, 1385 (illumination)
AIS5365793 Letter with portrait of the Grand Master of the Order of Jerusalem, 1385 (illumination); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Background imageInitial Word Collection: The Triumph of Fame, from 'Triumphs, sonnets and songs' by Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, 1304-1374)

The Triumph of Fame, from "Triumphs, sonnets and songs" by Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, 1304-1374)
AIS5351936 The Triumph of Fame, from "Triumphs, sonnets and songs" by Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, 1304-1374); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid, Spain; © Iberfoto

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Fantastic creatures, 12th century miniature

Fantastic creatures, 12th century miniature
AIS5343333 Fantastic creatures, 12th century miniature; Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid, Spain; (add.info.: Illuminated lettering depicting fantastic creatures in front of men)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Letter with portrait of Juan Fernandez de Heredia (1310-1396) historian, humanist

Letter with portrait of Juan Fernandez de Heredia (1310-1396) historian, humanist, politician of Aragon
AIS5351075 Letter with portrait of Juan Fernandez de Heredia (1310-1396) historian, humanist, politician of Aragon, grandmaster of the Order of Jerusalem, 1385 (miniature); Biblioteca Nacional

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Bishop Writing the Greek Alphabet on the Floor of the Church, early 14th century (vellum)

Bishop Writing the Greek Alphabet on the Floor of the Church, early 14th century (vellum)
FIT111706 Bishop Writing the Greek Alphabet on the Floor of the Church, early 14th century (vellum); 30x24.5 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Letter decorated with a rooster, 15th century (miniature)

Letter decorated with a rooster, 15th century (miniature)
AIS5386806 Letter decorated with a rooster, 15th century (miniature); General Archive of the Crown of Aragon, Barcelona, Spain; (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Letter with portrait of Juan (Jean) Fernandez de Heredia, 1385 (illumination)

Letter with portrait of Juan (Jean) Fernandez de Heredia, 1385 (illumination)
AIS5368727 Letter with portrait of Juan (Jean) Fernandez de Heredia, 1385 (illumination); National Library of Spain, Madrid

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Letter O with Portrait of Averroes (1126 - 1198) Arab philosopher and doctor. 14th century miniature

Letter O with Portrait of Averroes (1126 - 1198) Arab philosopher and doctor. 14th century miniature
BEN5464109 Letter O with Portrait of Averroes (1126 - 1198) Arab philosopher and doctor. 14th century miniature. Biblioteca Malatestiana. Cesena

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Beginning of St Luke's Gospel, 1894 (print)

Beginning of St Luke's Gospel, 1894 (print)
3786795 Beginning of St Luke's Gospel, 1894 (print); (add.info.: Beginning of St Luke's Gospel - from the Lindisfarne Gospel. 720 A.D. A Short History of the English People, Volume I)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Hunters Pursuing a Deer, c.1430-40 (tempera colours, gold paint, silver paint & gold leaf)

Hunters Pursuing a Deer, c.1430-40 (tempera colours, gold paint, silver paint & gold leaf)
8678061 Hunters Pursuing a Deer, c.1430-40 (tempera colours, gold paint, silver paint & gold leaf) by French School, (15th century); J

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Saint Mark, c.1410 ( tempera colours, gold leaf, gold paint & ink)

Saint Mark, c.1410 ( tempera colours, gold leaf, gold paint & ink)
8677958 Saint Mark, c.1410 ( tempera colours, gold leaf, gold paint & ink) by Master of Egerton, (active 1405-20); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial 'B' (eatus Vir) from a Choir Psalter, c. 1430-50 (ink, tempera and gold leaf on vellum)

Initial "B" (eatus Vir) from a Choir Psalter, c. 1430-50 (ink, tempera and gold leaf on vellum)
XOS5884574 Initial "B" (eatus Vir) from a Choir Psalter, c. 1430-50 (ink, tempera and gold leaf on vellum) by Master of the Vitae Imperatorum (15th century)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters from a Celtic alphabet taken from illuminated ma, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters from a Celtic alphabet taken from illuminated ma, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233448 Initial letters from a Celtic alphabet taken from illuminated ma, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Peter IV of Aragon called the Ceremonial or el del punyalet, 14th century (illumination)

Peter IV of Aragon called the Ceremonial or el del punyalet, 14th century (illumination)
CUL4853934 Peter IV of Aragon called the Ceremonial or el del punyalet, 14th century (illumination) by Spanish School, (14th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial alphabet letter Q, 1500-40 (pen and red and purple ink)

Initial alphabet letter Q, 1500-40 (pen and red and purple ink, with stencil in red and blue ink on paper)
7308221 Initial alphabet letter Q, 1500-40 (pen and red and purple ink, with stencil in red and blue ink on paper) by German School, (16th century); hxw:letter4.3x5 cm; Ashmolean Museum

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Songbook 1. Letter G adorned: Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (25 fol. )

Songbook 1. Letter G adorned: Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (25 fol. )
7294925 Songbook 1. Letter G adorned: Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (25 fol.) by Master's Burgo Osma (1400-50); Cathedral Museum, Burgo de Osma

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Songbook 5. Drop Cap: Nativity (fol. 139)

Songbook 5. Drop Cap: Nativity (fol. 139)
7294926 Songbook 5. Drop Cap: Nativity (fol. 139) by Master's Burgo Osma (1400-50); Cathedral Museum, Burgo de Osma, Spain; (add.info.: Master's Burgo Osma (1400 - 1450) Songbook 5

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233435 Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of initial letters in foliage from a French manuscript, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of initial letters in foliage from a French manuscript, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233457 Alphabet of initial letters in foliage from a French manuscript, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of initial letters decorated with garlands and birds fr, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of initial letters decorated with garlands and birds fr, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233456 Alphabet of initial letters decorated with garlands and birds fr, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial A, border and other elements with coat of arms from a 13, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial A, border and other elements with coat of arms from a 13, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233439 Initial A, border and other elements with coat of arms from a 13, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Initial A)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of decorative initial letters O to V, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of decorative initial letters O to V, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233433 Alphabet of decorative initial letters O to V, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Alphabet of decorative initial letters O to V)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233445 Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of initial letters from a French manuscript, 16th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of initial letters from a French manuscript, 16th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233460 Alphabet of initial letters from a French manuscript, 16th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Alphabet of initial letters from a French manuscript)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of initial letters from a Latin Bible of the 13th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of initial letters from a Latin Bible of the 13th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233454 Alphabet of initial letters from a Latin Bible of the 13th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Alphabet of initial letters from a Latin Bible)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters taken from a 16th century Italian manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters taken from a 16th century Italian manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233452 Initial letters taken from a 16th century Italian manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of illuminated initial letters with foliage, 15th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of illuminated initial letters with foliage, 15th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233449 Alphabet of illuminated initial letters with foliage, 15th centu, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Decorative initial ABCD from the Bible of King Jean II, 14th cen, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Decorative initial ABCD from the Bible of King Jean II, 14th cen, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233443 Decorative initial ABCD from the Bible of King Jean II, 14th cen, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initials from a 14th century illuminated manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initials from a 14th century illuminated manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233441 Initials from a 14th century illuminated manuscript. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Painted carving from the choir at Notre Dame de Paris)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Illuminated frame and paintings from Notre Dame, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Illuminated frame and paintings from Notre Dame, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233438 Illuminated frame and paintings from Notre Dame, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Frame with initial M and monster from the Psalter of St)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Ornate alphabet from a French illuminated manuscript 15th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Ornate alphabet from a French illuminated manuscript 15th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233455 Ornate alphabet from a French illuminated manuscript 15th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters from a Gothic alphabet. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters from a Gothic alphabet. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233453 Initial letters from a Gothic alphabet. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Initial letters from a Gothic alphabet. Alphabet Gothique)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters and border foliage from Jean de Sys illuminated, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters and border foliage from Jean de Sys illuminated, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233444 Initial letters and border foliage from Jean de Sys illuminated, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233437 Decorative initial letters and borders from a 13th century illum, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of decorative initial letters XYZ, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of decorative initial letters XYZ, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233434 Alphabet of decorative initial letters XYZ, 13th century. 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Alphabet of decorative initial letters XYZ)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: The Gradual. Initial R: The Resurrection, c. 1500 (tempera, gold leaf and ink on parchment)

The Gradual. Initial R: The Resurrection, c. 1500 (tempera, gold leaf and ink on parchment)
FIA5391766 The Gradual. Initial R: The Resurrection, c.1500 (tempera, gold leaf and ink on parchment) by Monza, Antonio da (fl.1480-1505); 64.1 x 43.5 cm; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Dedication page with illuminated inscription, 1856 (chromolithograph)

Dedication page with illuminated inscription, 1856 (chromolithograph)
7233872 Dedication page with illuminated inscription, 1856 (chromolithograph) by Stothard, Charles Alfred (1786-1821) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dedication page to Eleanor Percy)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of decorative initial letters taken from manuscripts of, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of decorative initial letters taken from manuscripts of, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233458 Alphabet of decorative initial letters taken from manuscripts of, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters in the Ronde (Round) script decorated with garla, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters in the Ronde (Round) script decorated with garla, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233451 Initial letters in the Ronde (Round) script decorated with garla, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233446 Initial letters from Jean de Sys illuminated Bible, 14th centur, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Decorative initial letters taken from 13th century illuminated B, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Decorative initial letters taken from 13th century illuminated B, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233440 Decorative initial letters taken from 13th century illuminated B, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Reproduction of a page from a 13th century illuminaed Latin psal, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Reproduction of a page from a 13th century illuminaed Latin psal, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233436 Reproduction of a page from a 13th century illuminaed Latin psal, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info)

Background imageInitial Word Collection: Alphabet of decorative initial letters from I to N, 13th century, 1897 (Chromolithograph)

Alphabet of decorative initial letters from I to N, 13th century, 1897 (Chromolithograph)
7233432 Alphabet of decorative initial letters from I to N, 13th century, 1897 (Chromolithograph) by Guillot, Ernest (19th century); (add.info.: Alphabet of decorative initial letters from I to N)




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"Initial Word: A Journey Through Illuminated Letters and Borders" Step back in time to the 14th century with Peter IV of Aragon's ceremonial dagger, known as "el del punyalet. " This intricate piece showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of the era. Delve further into the world of illuminated letters with a stunning initial alphabet letter Q from the 1500s. Created using pen, red and purple ink, along with stencils in red and blue ink on paper, this piece is a testament to meticulous detail. Experience religious symbolism through songbooks adorned with exquisite initials. The presentation of Jesus at the Temple comes alive in Songbook 1's letter G, while Songbook 5 captivates us with its drop cap depicting the Nativity on folio 139. Travel through time as we explore decorative initial letters and borders from a mesmerizing 13th-century illumination. Chromolithographs from 1897 bring these ancient works to life once again – an enchanting fusion of old-world charm and modern technology. Discover an array of alphabets featuring foliage, garlands, birds, coats of arms, all meticulously crafted by skilled hands centuries ago. These chromolithographs transport us to different periods – from a French manuscript in the 16th century to Latin Bibles dating back to the 13th century. Join us on this captivating journey through history as we unravel tales hidden within each stroke of these remarkable initial letters. Let your imagination soar amidst their vibrant colors and intricate designs – a testament to human creativity across centuries.