Getty Museum

Decorated Initial C

Date

late 10th century

Medium

Tempera colors, gold paint, silver paint, and ink

Culture

Ottonian

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

The first reading in this lectionary, taken from the Gospel of Matthew, is for Christmas Eve. This page is given over entirely to its two opening words: *Cum esset* (When [Mary] was). The anonymous artist places the letters of the words within a frame decorated with acanthus leaves. Knots of interlace mark the four corners of the frame and hold the large initial *C* in place as the tendrils wind around the armature of the letter. To the right, the word continues vertically in angular letters filled in with a fretwork design; the second word below, in a more rounded script called uncial, is read horizontally. In order to harmonize the differently sized scripts, the artist carefully balanced the colors. Pale blue and lavender with spots of orange and dark blue, all of which contrast with the creamy tone of the parchment, subtly accent the brilliant gold of the vines.

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