A King and a Saint, two historiated initials from a Choirbook, in Latin [Italy, c.1490-1500]

two cuttings, each c.67x67mm, vellum, (a) initial ‘A’ or ‘N’ depicting a king with crown and sceptre but no halo (perhaps King David, or St Louis?), the reverse with traces of music and ‘roma(m)’(?), (b) initial ‘U’ with a young saint holding a book and palm of martyrdom, the reverse with traces of music and text; some rubbing and flaking of pigments and gold

These two initials are finely painted and represent a rare style. Most characteristic is the cool paleness of both figures and the androgynous character of the young saint. In this respect, the figures seem somewhat inspired by the occasionally ambiguous representations of saints by Leonardo da Vinci.