Item Info
Folio Number: front
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes: Initial I with a saint, possibly St. John the Evangelist
Notes: Sano di Pietro (1405-1481), the illuminator of this initial, was one of the most prolific artists working in Siena during the fifteenth century. Many of Sano's commissions came from religious communities, for whom he produced not only illuminated manuscripts but also a number of altarpieces. The youthful features of this saint suggest that this is St. John the Evangelist, who, like other the other apostles, is normally depicted in bare feet. Closer inspection of saint's feet bears out this identification: the orange stockings covering the saint's feet are a later addition. His feet can be seen through the thinly applied orange paint.
This cutting belongs to a group of other cuttings in the Free Library from the same choir book or at least the same set of choir books. These are: Lewis E M 22:7-16, E M 22:18-21, E M 23:1-6, E M 25:1-3, and E M 76:29a. Although there is scant textual evidence to determine the type of choir book from which these cuttings were taken, similarities in the style of decoration, the color palette, and dimensions in the height of the staves on the reverse allow them to be grouped together.
Notes:
This cutting has been dated to ca. 1470.
Sirsi Catalog Key:
1594357
Country:
Country:Italy
City/Town/Township:Siena
Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin):
1475
Image Dimensions Width:
259 mm
ShelfMark:
Lewis E M 25:1
Creator Name:
Sano di Pietro - Artist
front
reverse