Illuminated initial ‘R’ on vellum showing Christus Triumphans by Taddeo Crivelli, c. 154 mm x 140 mm, on verso musical notation in red with text fragments from Lauds, Italy, Ferrara c. 1460; mounted in black velvet passepartout; minor fading and flaking of gold, few colour abrasions in places, trimmed with partial loss of the initial body ending in the dolphin hꦯead in the lower right, slightly darkened in places, overall in good condition.

FEAR AND SALVATION: A BEAUTIFUL INITIAL DEPIC꧒TING THE RESURRECTION BY TADDEO CRIVELLI

This spendid initial 'R' shows the risen Christ hꦓolding a lance flanked by two Roman soldiers who direct their astonished and amazed gazes towards the slender figure in their midst. The rose coloured body of the initial is formed of elegantly curling acanthus leaves and extends into a dolphin head in the lower right corner. The letter 'R' initiates "R[esurrexit Dominus a mortuis, sicut dixerat; exs🐭ultemus et laetemur omnes, quoniam ipse regnat in aeternum, alleluia]" from 1 Cor. 15:12. The Lord has risen from the dead, as he said; let us all exult and rejoice, for he reigns for all eternity, alleluia.

Christ’s left hand encloses a lance with a victory banner while his right is lifted in blessing with two fingers extended. He is portrayed as Salvator Mundi, having ta💜ken upon himself the sins of humankind and conquered death in promise of eternal life.

Taddeo Crivelli (1451-1479) was a leading painter and miniaturist of the 15th-century Ferrarese school. He is known for his richly illustrated works, including a two-volume Bible for Duke Borso d'Este which he created in collaboration with various artists, including renowned illuminator Franco dei Russi, over a span of six years. He also created an illuminated copy of Boccacio’s Decamerone as well as a luxurious Book of Hours, the Gualenghi-d'Este Book of Hours. Crivelli’s œuvre stands out through the artist’s meticulous attention to texture and a vibrant colour pale💮tte enhanced with gold.

This beautiful initial embodies the levity and diverse colour palette of Italian 🀅Renaissance illumination.

PROVENANCE

1. The initial originates from💜 an antiphonary decorated by Taddeo Crivelli c. 1460 in Ferarra. Another miniature from the same manuscript was sold by Christie’s 24th November 2004, lot 6958 to the Paul Getty Museum.

2. Germany, Private Collection.

3. France, Private Collection.

4. UK, Private Collection.

LITERATURE

K. Barstow. The Gualenghi-d'Este Hours, Art and D♌evotion in R☂enaissance Ferrara, New York: Getty Publications, 2000.

La miniatura a Ferrara dal tempo di Cosme Tura 💮all'eredita di Ercole de' Roberto, ed. F. Toniolo: Franco Cosimi Panini, 1998.

Boskovi﷽ts, M. “Ferrarese Painting about 1450: Some New Arguments.” Burlington Magazine 178 (1978): pp. 370–38🍬5.