Cleveland Museum of Art

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

Date

Late 1450s

Medium

Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum

Culture

Italy, Florence, 15th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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

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