Saint Kneeling Before God Enthroned in a Historiated Initial "V" from an Antiphonary 1310 - 1315

This Antiphonary sheet, featuring a depiction of a saint kneeling before God, was made in Italy around the 14th century, by Neri da Rimini. It is made with ink, tempera, and gold leaf on parchment. The parchment itself would have been carefully prepared from animal skin, stretched and scraped to create a smooth surface. The lines and notation are meticulously drawn in ink. The vibrant colors within the initial are tempera, pigments mixed with egg yolk, allowing for precise detail and luminous hues. And look at the gold leaf, applied painstakingly to catch the light and signify divine presence. The creation of such a manuscript was a labor-intensive process. Scribes and illuminators worked collaboratively, demonstrating specialized skills developed through years of training. The value of materials like gold leaf further elevated the status of these objects. This combination of material value, artisanal skill, and devotional imagery really collapses any presumed distinction between art and craft.