An Illuminated Alphabet
In burnished gold and glowing colours, illuminated initials enrich the pages of the most beautiful books of the past. The practical purpose of highlighting an initial letter, in medieval manuscripts and early printing, was to mark the start of a new section. Illuminators might embellish these capital letters with designs of wonderful variety which are often based on plants, flowers, animals and birds, but are sometimes even 'historiated' with human figures or stories from their texts.
This illuminated alphabet is assembled from several magnificent books held in the Bodleian Libraries which date mostly from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Letters B,Q and V were made at English monasteries in the 12th century, Winchester or Worcester. W is also English, early 15th century. F, I, K and U are from Renaissance manuscripts made in Northern Italy in the second half of the 15th century. A, C, D, E, G, H, L, M, N, P, R S and T are also Italian, added by hand in Florence to a magnificent copy of Pliny's Natural History printed in 1476; sometimes these designs, depicting Pliny's themes, may even obscure part of the letter. In O, made at Cracow in the 15th century, a royal suppliant prays to God and a magical angle. X and Y are 16th century English and Spanish - these initials are hard to find in earlier manuscripts - whilst J shows the revival of the art of illuminating by William Morris in 1874.
- 1000 piece jigsaw
- Completed puzzle dimensions: 69 x 48cm
- Made in the UK exclusively for the Bodleian Libraries
- Includes a poster for reference.
- WARNING! Not Suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts. Choking hazard.
