The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 23, 2024

Initial D[eus in loco] with a Prophet Excised from a Gradual

Initial D[eus in loco] with a Prophet Excised from a Gradual

1409–10
(Italian, c. 1370–1425)
Italy, Florence, 15th century
ink, tempera, and gold on vellum
Sheet: 16.7 x 16 cm (6 9/16 x 6 5/16 in.); Framed: 52.4 x 39.7 cm (20 5/8 x 15 5/8 in.); Matted: 48.9 x 36.2 cm (19 1/4 x 14 1/4 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1949.536
Location: not on view

Description

This jewel-like initial is one of a series of prophet portraits painted by Lorenzo in a set of choir books commissioned by the church of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence. Striking for its blue and orange-red foliage, the initial is set against a highly burnished gold ground decorated with punch marks, much like a small panel painting. The initial begins the Introit (introductory section) to the Mass for the eleventh Sunday after Pentacost: Deus in loco sancto suo (God is in his holy place). Lorenzo, who was a Camaldolese monk, produced a vast quantity of work—illuminations, panel paintings, and frescos—an indication that his art was highly esteemed and sought after during his lifetime.
  • Vladimir Simkovitch (New York)
  • Milliken, William M. “Miniatures by Lorenzo Monaco and Francesco Del Cherico.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 37, no. 3 (March 1950): 43–49. Mentioned: p. 43-44 www.jstor.org
    “Gothic Art 1360-1440.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 50, no. 7 (September 1963): 174–215. Reproduced: p. 184, no. 64 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 62 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 62 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 68 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art, and Holger A. Klein. Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 274-275, no. 104
  • The Glory of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 6, 2010-April 17, 2011).
    Cleveland Museum of Art, (11/06/2010 - 04/17/2011); "The Glory Of the Painted Page: Manuscript Illuminations from the Permanent Collections"
    Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. National Museum of Bavaria, Munich, Germany (May 10-September 16, 2007); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA (October 30, 2007-January 20, 2008); Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 13-June 7, 2009).
    Bavarian Nationalmuseum, Munich (5/10/2007 - 9/16/2007), the J. Paul Getty Musuem, Los Angeles (10/30/2007 - 1/20/2008) and Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN (2/13/2009 - 6/7/2009): "Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art"
    Illuminated Manuscripts. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (October 10, 2004-October 2, 2005).
    The Cleveland Museum of Art (10/10/2004 - 10/02/2005); "Illuminated Manuscripts"
    New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Paintings and Illumination in Early Renaissance Florence 1300-1450" November 18, 1994-February 26, 1995.
    The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 25-December 19, 1993).
    Cleveland Museum of Art, "The Decorated Letter and the Illuminator's Art" September 25-December 19, 1993.
    Italian Renaissance Illuminations. High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA (organizer) (December 16, 1973-February 15, 1974).
    Atlanta, The High Museum, "Italian Renaissance Illuminations," December 16, 1973-February 15, cat. no. 38, fig. 10.
    Florence and the Arts: Five Centuries of Patronage. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 13-September 19, 1971).
    CMA: "Florence and the Arts-Five Centries of Patronage" 1971, no. 45, repr.
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, "Gothic Art, 1360-1440" August 8-September 15, 1963, no. 64.
    Gothic Art 1360-1440. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 6-September 15, 1963).
    Pages From Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts. Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA (April 24-June 8, 1963).
    Berkeley, University Art Gallery, University of California, "Pages from Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts" April 24-June 8, 1963, cat. no. 44, pl. XL.
    Buffalo, Albright Art Gallery, "Art in the Book" December 5, 1953-January 3, 1954, cat. no. 14.
  • {{cite web|title=Initial D[eus in loco] with a Prophet Excised from a Gradual|url=false|author=Lorenzo Monaco|year=1409–10|access-date=23 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1949.536