3-038-217 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Decorated Initial D; Stammheim Missal, probably 1170s. Additional Info:A decorated initial D, reminiscent of an embossed shield, opens the prayer on this page. Since the writing of a manuscript was always done first, the scribe left portions of the main text block blank to accommodate these large, elaborate initials, which were then painted in by another artisan. Here the illuminator emphasized the first few words of the prayer by writing them with red ink on silver and gold backgrounds.