Search Results: Authors starting with I from Littera Scripta

Artist: Kuniteru II (1829 - 1874)
Title: "The First Steam Train in Japan".
Date:1872.
Medium: Colour woodblock print on washi paper.
Notes: This 2-4-0 tank engine was the one that started the railway age in Japan. It was one of a group of ten locomotives built by various manufacturers in Great Britain to work Japan's first railway opened between Shimbashi (Tokyo) and Yokohama in 1871. It was built by the Vulcan Foundry of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, and still survives today in the Japanese railway museum. This woodblock print portrays it as it appeared when it first ran. It is widely believed that the Imperial Japanese Government Railways used a livery of light brown or golden ochre for its locomotives imported from Britain.
Japanese artists, including Hiroshige, were fascinated by this technological marvel and Kuniteru II produced several woodblock prints of this momentous event in Japan's history.
Condition: The print is in fair/good condition. The paper has darkened over the years, there are… Read More

This small leaf is most likely from a psalter designed for personal, rather than monastic use.
Recto:15 lines of text in Latin written on vellum in a fine Northern Gothic Textura script, characterised by its lateral compression and angularity. Ruled in red. One two-line illuminated initial 'N' in red with blue and red penwork radiating into the margins. A touch of gold leaf has been applied to the initial. Alternating Lombard style versal initials in red and blue.
Verso: As Recto, with a two-line initial 'Q' in blue with red and blue penwork. Further coloured versal initials.
Origin: Flanders or Netherlands.
Date: c.1425.
Content:The first part of Recto is the end verses of Psalm 122 (KJV 123). The illuminated 'N' then begins Psalm 123 (KJV 124):
Nisi quia Dominus erat in nobis dicat nunc israel
( If it had not been the lord who was on our side, now may Israel say)
The psalm is completed on Verso, then the blue initial 'Q' begins Psalm 124 (KJV 125)..
Condition: The leaf is in very good/excellent… Read More

Medieval calendar pages look rather complicated to the modern eye.
Typically they are laid our in four columns. In the far right appear the special feasts for each day of the month. These are mostly commemorations of the day the saints were martyred. Other feasts commemorate important events in the lives of Christ and the Virgin. Ordinary feast days are written in black and special feast days are written in red, (hence, the term "red-letter day," meaning a major event). It is common for calendars in French Books of Hours to be written in the vernacular, as occurs here.
This is a "Double-Graded" calendar, a calendar that distinguishes important feasts in red from ordinary feasts in black. (See further notes below.)
Recto: A two-line 'KL' for Kalends in raised & burnished gold on red and blue grounds with white-lead penwork infill and two one-line initials of identical treatment. Red letter days include feasts for the Apostles Philip and Jacob, the Holy Cross & John.
Verso: As Recto, with two further… Read More

"My tears have been my bread by day and by night…"
Recto: Text in Latin written in a rounded Gothic bookhand on vellum. Ruled in red and rubrics in red. Capitals touched in yellow.. Five one-line illuminated initials alternating in liquid gold with black penwork and blue with red penwork. The first two initials have intricate penwork radiating into the margins. The lively, almost playful nature of the penwork flourishes is typical of Flemish decoration..
Verso: As Recto, with two one-line initials with contrasting penwork.
Origin: Flanders
Date: c.1450
Content: The text on Recto is a section of Psalm 41 (KJV42):
In die mandavit Dominus misericordiam suam: et nocte canticum eius. Apud me oratio Deo vitæ meæ,
(In the daylight, the Lord has ordered his mercy; and in the night, a canticle to him. With me is a prayer to the God of my life.)
The psalm continues to 41:12 on Verso, then follows the antiphon:
Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum:
quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?
Fuerunt mihi… Read More

Early Bibles often incorporated a wide variety of aids and addenda, such as calendars and tables of lections, biblical summaries and devotional treatises, to facilitate prayer, preaching and study.
Guiding readers through the long and complex text of the Bible, none was as popular as the "Interpretations of Hebrew Names in alphabetical order". It was usually found at the end of the Bible after the Apocalypse.
When Jerome translated the Bible into Latin, he was well aware of the importance of names. The Vulgate transliterated many of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek proper names of the Bible.
The text comprises a long alphabetical list of Latinised Hebrew words, followed by their meanings, translations or explanations. For the most part they are names of characters in the Old Testament such as David, Jethro, Ruth, Obadiah, Naomi, etc. as well as places like Hebron and Jericho, but the list also included frequently used words.
Recto: Latin text written in black ink on fine vellum in an extremely precise… Read More

Recto: Text in Latin written on fine vellum in black ink a precise Gothic bookhand. Ruled in red. Three one-line illuminated initials in blue and salmon with fine white penwork on a ground of burnished gold outlined in black. Three illuminated line fillers. The initials are infilled with coloured flowers. An intricate full length panel of illuminations of blue, red and liquid gold acanthus leaves and flowers is inhabited by a hybrid creature or "grotesque" consisting of a bird with a long outstretched wing and a dragon's body and tail. While grotesques in medieval manuscripts are often subversively humorous or repugnant, this one is simply immensely charming.
Verso: As Recto, with four one-line illuminated initials, one line filler and a similar panel of illuminations, but with different flowers and no grotesque.
Origin: Northern France, probably Paris.
Date: c.1465
Content: The text on both Recto and Verso is from Psalm 142 (KJV 143), one of the Seven Penitential Psalms. (see Notes below). The… Read More

Recto:Double column text in Latin written in an assured gothic bookhand in black ink on parchment. Ruled in red, with rubrics in red. One splendid two-line initial 'N' in blue outlined in black with white penwork on a burnished gold ground, infilled with a foliate design. Beside the initial is a six-line marginal panel of coloured acanthus leaves, flowers and leaves in the style of a Book of Hours. Three two-line initials in burnished gold on red and blue grounds highlighted with white penwork and alternating red and blue one-line initials.
Verso: As Recto, with six two-line illuminated initials and without a marginal panel.
Origin: Spain or Southern France.
Date: Early part of the 15th century, c. 1425
Content: The rubrics at the illuminated initial 'N' read : Sancti petri ad vincula , signifying the beginning of the mass for the Feast of St. Peter in Chains, traditionally celebrated on August 1st. The text reads: Nunc scio vere, quia misit Dominus Angelum suum : et eripuit me de manu Herodis,… Read More

"And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested…"
Verso: 12 lines of text in Latin written on vellum in brown ink in a lettre bâtarde script. Ruled in purple, rubrics in red. One two-line illuminated initial 'E' in blue & white on a ground of red outlined in black and finished with gold penwork.
Recto: As Verso, text only.
Source: France.
Date: c.1490
Content: The text is from the Hours of the Virgin I, Matins. The initial 'E' begins the Second Lesson:
Et sic in Sion firmata sum, et in civitate sanctificata similiter requievi, et in Jerusalem potestas mea.
(And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem.)
Condition: The leaf is in excellent condition, with clear text on clean vellum. The illuminated initial is in fine condition. It is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.
Notes: Books of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity who wished to emulate the cycle of daily devotions followed by the clergy but… Read More

Recto: 14 lines of text in Latin written on vellum in black ink in a high quality gothic bookhand. An intricate panel of illuminations runs the length of the text in a style known as rinceaux.
Verso: As Recto, with an equally fine panel of illuminations.
Source: Northern France, probably Paris
Date: c.1480.
Content: The text on both sides of the leaf is a section of the prayer Obsecro te. Recto reads:
...[quem] habuisti, quando filium tuum Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum ante crucem nudatum, et in illa levatum vidisti pendentem, crucifixum, vulneratum; sitientem hely clamantem audisti. Et per quinque vulnera Filii tui, per contractionem viscerum suorum, prae nimio dolore vulnerum. et per dolorem quem habuisti, quando vidisti eum vulnerari. Et per fontes lacrymarum tuarum: et cum omnibus sanctis per omnem passionem eius, et dolorem cordis tui, et per fontes , ut cum omnibus sanctis et electis Dei. Venias, et festines in auxilium meum,in omnibus orationibus, et requestis meis tribulationibus… Read More

"The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume:
but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace."
Recto: Latin text written in black ink on fine vellum in an extremely precise gothic minuscule script in two columns of 47 lines. Ruled in red, versal initials touched in red. Heading 'ASTI' (half of the running title of ECCASTI (ECCLESIASTICUS), and chapter numbers in red and blue. Two two-line initials 'Q' and 'B' in blue and red with intricate red and blue penwork embellishments extending the full length of the page. A scholar's note in the right margin.
Verso: As Recto with the heading 'ECC' and two two-line coloured initials 'Q' and 'N'. The decorative penwork from the initials extends the length of the page, as Recto.
Origin: Northern France, doubtless Paris.
Date: Mid-13th century, c. 1250.
Content:The text on Recto beginning Chapter 13 at the blue initial 'Q' reads:
Qui tetigerit picem inquinabitur ab illa et qui communicaverit superbo inducet superbiam. Pondus super se tollit qui honestiori… Read More

Verso: 17 lines of text in Dutch and Latin written on vellum in brown ink in a Gothic bookhand script. Rubrics in red, two initials touched in yellow. One two-line illuminated initial 'S' in raised and burnished gold on a ground of pink, blue and white outlined in black. Five one-line coloured versal initials alternating in blue and red.
Recto: As Verso, with seven one-line coloured versal initials.
Source: Netherlands.
Date: c.1490
Content: The text is sections of Psalms 148 and 149. Verso begins with the last few verses of Psalm 148 before the rubrics in red read: Cantate domino canticum - the opening line of Psalm 149 in Latin. The two-line gold initial 'S' begins the psalm in Dutch: Singet den heere… (Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king).
Condition: The leaf is in very good condition, with clear text on clean vellum that has just minimal staining. The… Read More

Complete chapters 43,44,45, with sections of 42 & 46.
Recto: Latin text written in black ink on fine vellum in an extremely precise gothic minuscule script in two columns of 47 lines. Ruled in red, versal initials touched in red. Heading 'RE' (half of the abbreviated running title of 'IERE' (IEREMIAS) and chapter numbers in red and blue. One four-line initial 'F' in blue with intricate red and blue penwork embellishments extending the full length of the page. One two-line initial 'V' in red with similar embellishments.
Verso: As Recto with the heading 'IE' and two two-line coloured initials 'V' and 'Q'. The decorative penwork from the initials extends the length of the page, as Recto.
Origin: Northern France, doubtless Paris.
Date: Mid-13th century, c. 1250.
Content:The text on Recto beginning at the blue four-line 'F' reads:
Factum est autem, cum complesset Jeremias loquens ad populum universos sermones Domini Dei eorum, pro quibus miserat eum Dominus Deus eorum ad illos, omnia verba hæc,
Dixit… Read More

Verso: Text in Latin written in an assured Gothic bookhand on vellum. Ruled in red and rubrics in red. Three two-line illuminated initials in raised and highly burnished gold on a ground of blue and pink outlined in black and with white penwork. Capitals touched in yellow.
Recto: As Verso, with one two-line illuminated initial as Verso and one one-line initial in blue with red penwork..
Origin: Northern France, probably Paris.
Date: c.1475
Content: The text is from The Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Vespers. The first illuminated initial E' on Verso begins the prayer:
Exaudi nos deus salutaris noster et apostolorum tuorum petyri et pauli nos tuere presidiis quorum donasti fideles esse doctrinis.
(Hear us, God, our saviour, and protect us from the sieges of your apostles Peter and Paul whose teachings you have given us to be faithful.)
The text continues:
Omnes sancti tui quaesumus Domine nos ubique adiuvent: ut dum eorum merita recolimus, patrocinia sentiamus: et pacem tuam nostris concede… Read More

Recto: Text in Latin written on fine vellum in black ink a precise Gothic bookhand. Ruled in red. Five one-line illuminated initials in blue and salmon with fine white penwork on a ground of burnished gold outlined in black. The initials are infilled with coloured flowers. An intricate full length panel of illuminations of blue, red and liquid gold acanthus leaves and flowers is inhabited by a hybrid creature or "grotesque" consisting of a bird with a dragon's body and tail and with feathers standing up along its back. While grotesques in medieval manuscripts are often subversively humorous or repugnant, this one is oddly charming.
Verso: As Recto, with one two-line and three one-line illuminated initials, two line fillers and a similar panel of illuminations, but with different flowers and no grotesque.
Origin: Northern France, probably Paris.
Date: c.1465
Content: The text on Recto begins at Verse 24 of Psalm 101 (KJV102), one of the Seven Penitential Psalms.
Respondit ei in via virtutis suae:… Read More