id: 152260
accession number: 1985.140
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1985.140
updated: 2022-01-04 16:59:39.421000
Historiated Initial (E) Excised from the Colonna Missal: The Martyrdom of St. Stephen, c. 1532. Apollonio de' Bonfratelli (Italian). Ink, tempera, and liquid gold on vellum; sheet: 10 x 10 cm (3 15/16 x 3 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1985.140
title: Historiated Initial (E) Excised from the Colonna Missal: The Martyrdom of St. Stephen
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: c. 1532
creation date earliest: 1527
creation date latest: 1537
current location:
creditline: John L. Severance Fund
copyright:
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culture: Italy, Rome, 16th century
technique: ink, tempera, and liquid gold on vellum
department: Medieval Art
collection: MED - Manuscript Illuminations
type: Manuscript
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
* Apollonio de' Bonfratelli (Italian) - artist
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measurements: Sheet: 10 x 10 cm (3 15/16 x 3 15/16 in.)
state of the work:
edition of the work:
support materials:
inscriptions:
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
title: The Year in Review for 1985
opening date: 1986-02-12T05:00:00
The Year in Review for 1985. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 12-April 20, 1986).
title: The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art
opening date: 1993-09-25T04:00:00
The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
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PROVENANCE
(Sotheby's, London, sale 10/10/1967, lot 17)
date:
footnotes:
citations:
R. T. Milne
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footnotes:
citations:
(Sotheby's, London, sale 10/10/1967, lot 17); R.T. Milne
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fun fact:
digital description:
wall description:
This initial was once part of a manuscript missal (a service book for the altar) made for Cardinal Pompeo Colonna, probably in the year of his death. The letter E is decorated with gold arabesque and rope-work patterns evocative of Renaissance goldsmithing. At the center is a small pen-and-ink drawing representing the death of Saint Stephen, the Christian Church's first martyr. The text introduced by this initial comes from the Offertory of the Mass for the Feast of Saint Stephen (December 26), and would have read, Elegerunt Apostoli Stephanum (And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and the Holy Ghost). The illuminator, Apollonio de' Bonfratelli, was active at the papal court where he decorated manuscripts for Popes Pius IV and V as well as other members of the Church hieiarchy.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.140/1985.140_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.140/1985.140_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1985.140/1985.140_full.tif