The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Leaf from a Gradual: Initial (D) with John the Baptist

Leaf from a Gradual: Initial (D) with John the Baptist

Late 1450s
(Italian, 1433–1484)
Italy, Florence, 15th century
Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum
Sheet: 55.1 x 36.6 cm (21 11/16 x 14 7/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1950.1
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

It was common practice in the Renaissance for illuminators to buy their pigments from apothecaries.

Description

This leaf comes from a gradual, a choral book containing the mass chants. It features a large
decorated letter D introducing the Mass: Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac (Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength) from Psalm 53. Francesco d’Antonio del Cherico began his career as a goldsmith in Florence. He eventually changed his occupation to manuscript illuminator where he achieved much success. He was a pupil of Fra Angelico and became famous for being Lorenzo de’ Medici’s favorite illuminator. He gained a reputation for his well-executed illustrations in varying types of books ranging from small books of hours to large choir books. His illustrations often featured intricate floral arrangements, as seen here.
  • -1950
    Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1950-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh
  • Milliken, William M. "Miniatures by Lorenzo Monaco and Francesco Del Cherico." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 37, no. 3 (1950) Illustrated on p. 47
  • Liturgical Textiles and Manuscripts from Medieval and Early Renaissance Italy (Manuscript and Textile Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 5, 2018-December 2, 2019).
    Exhibition of Sienese and Florentine Manuscripts. Wildenstein & Co., London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (organizer) (February 24-April 10, 1965).
  • {{cite web|title=Leaf from a Gradual: Initial (D) with John the Baptist|url=false|author=Francesco d'Antonio del Cherico|year=Late 1450s|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1950.1