{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O94043"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94043/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP6957/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP6957/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CP6957","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AK7883","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O94043/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O94043","accessionNumber":"D.332-1893","objectType":"Manuscript cutting","titles":[{"title":"Manuscript cutting","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This cut-out initial came from a larger liturgical manuscript and was probably made in Lombardy, Italy, in the early fifteenth century. It may have corresponded to a feast connected to St. John the Baptist, shown here being beheaded.\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Cut-out historiated initial 'O' with the beheading of St. John the Baptist. Probably made in Lombardy in the early fifteenth century (c. 1410). Double-sided. Colour pigments, and gold leaf.\r\n\r\nRecto: pink initial 'O' with scene surrounded by gold leaf\r\n\r\nVerso: Inaccessible as the initial is pasted down onto card.\r\n\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Tomasino da Vimercate","id":"A11999"},"association":{"text":"illuminator","id":"AAT25122"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Parchment","id":"AAT11851"},{"text":"Pigments","id":"x33204"},{"text":"Gold leaf","id":"x33207"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Illumination","id":"AAT220539"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Water-based pigments, burnished gold leaf and ink on parchmen.","categories":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Manuscripts","id":"THES48922"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2009CP6957","2006AK7883"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"I","shelf":"77","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Manuscript","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lombardy","id":"x29366"},"association":{"text":"illuminated","id":"AAT220539"},"note":"Historical region of Lombardy assigned to this object by Mirella Levi D'Ancona."}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1410","earliest":"1405-01-01","latest":"1414-12-31"},"association":{"text":"illuminated","id":"AAT220539"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"100","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"85","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Whole cutting","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This initial once belonged to a large manuscript that was probably made in Lombardy in the early decades of the fifteenth century. The size of the initial suggests that it likely came from a manuscript that was intended to be read from farther away and possibly by a group (perhaps a choir).\r\n\r\nInitials\r\nRecto: Red/pink initial 'O'' which has darkened over time is decorated with white pseudo-Arabic script (an imitation Arabric writing that is not real) and blue decorative flowers on either side of the initial. Inside of the closed counter (fully enclosed interior space of an alphabetic letter) shows St. John the Baptist, in a hairshirt, leaning out of his jail cell and being beheaded by a figure holding a large sword. The whole initial is set against a background of burnished gold leaf (gold pigment that has been polished to shine).\r\n\r\nVerso: The reverse side is inaccessible due to being pasted down onto card.\r\n\r\nText\r\nAlthough no text is still visible, it is possible that this initial commemorated the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist (29 August)","historicalContext":"Data taken from notes compiled by Rowan Watson. The full text of the entry is as follows:\r\n \r\n(This text refers to  325.1 to 325.8)\r\n\r\nCat. 325. Eight cut-out historiated miniatures from a Choir Book, Italy (North), Mid-15th century.\r\n\r\nIndividual item text\r\n\r\n'Cat. no. 325.1\r\nD.332-1893 (MS 1007)\r\nCHOIR BOOK\r\nCut-out historiated initial O (magenta letter-shape with mock arabic lettering on burnished gold ground, beheading of St John the Baptist, attributed to Tomasino da Vinercate)\r\n\r\nVerso not visible (pasted onto card in 19c).\r\n\r\nItaly (North) . c. 1440?\r\n100 x 83 mm.\r\n\r\nFrom a set of 8 \"illuminations\" bought from Messrs Parsons, 1893 £12.12.0.\r\nPub: 1908 cat, 88; 1923 cat, 81'","briefDescription":"Historiated initial O from a Choirbook showing the Beheading of St John the Baptist; Italian; early 15th century A duplicate number MS.1007 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"John (Saint John the Baptist)","id":"N450"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Beheading of John the Baptist","id":"V319"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"sword","id":"AAT37048"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["D.332-1893"],"accessionNumberNum":"332","accessionNumberPrefix":"D","accessionYear":1893,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-30","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-26","availableToBook":false}}