Historiated initial from a set of Choir books

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Illuminated manuscript. Cutting. Historiated initial from a set of Choir books. Production Place: Italy, Milan or Lodi. Parchment, 168 x 135 mm, two fragmentary lines of text ruled in pale brown ink and two fragmentary four-line musical staves ruled in red ink on reverse, circa 1395 to circa 1400. CONTENTS: The initial M would have introduced the responsory for the first lesson of Matins for the feast of the Decollation of John the Baptist, Misit Herodes rex manus ac tenuit Joannem et vinxit in carcerem; on reverse, part of the responsory to the second lesson of Matins for this feast, [Joannes Baptista arguebat Herodem] pro[pter Herodia]dem. DECORATION: Historiated initial in pale graded pink on burnished gold ground with floral and acanthus extensions into the margins which also contain gold balls and birds: [M] King Herod sending out soldiers to arrest St John the Baptist.
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