A Bishop Saint, historiated initial from a Choirbook, in Latin [Italy (Pavia), c.1500]

cutting, c.85x90mm, vellum, historiated initial ‘S’ by the MASTER OF THE GRADUALS OF SAN SALVATORE IN PAVIA, reverse with part of one line of text and music on a four-line red stave (rastrum c.42mm), slight cracking and some rubbing to the gold leaf, cut to shape, framed 

Reiss & Sohn, 25 April 2001, bought by the present owner.

This illumination has been published as the work of the Master of the Graduals of San Salvatore in Pavia by Pier Luigi Mulas (‘Le Maître des Graduels de San Salvatore de Pavie’, in Quand la peinture était dans les livres, 2007, pp.223-33, esp.p.223, and ‘I Corali di San Sisto’, in I corali benedettini di San Sisto a Piacenza, 2011, pp. 45-66, the present cutting p.57, fig.15). Another initial with another bishop saint, painted by the same artist and from the same manuscript was offered by Ferrini & Fogg, Medieval & Renaissance Miniature Painting, 1988, no.17; subsequently Maggs, European Bulletin No.18, 1993, no.16, with colour plate (£4,600).