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Collections

Unknown
Sixteen Ornamental Letters (M, P, Q)16th century

Not on view
Woodcut print of an ornate decorative initial Q with a bearded profile figure inside, surrounded by scrolls and banners with partial text
Woodcut historiated initial letter Q with a dark crosshatched background; the letter's interior contains a winged figure amid foliage and scrollwork, with a ribbon banner bearing Latin text curling around the border.
Woodcut initial letter Q on black ground, with a grotesque figure and foliate scrollwork filling the interior; ribbon banners with Latin text in the corners.
Woodcut or engraving initial letter Q with a male profile bust at center, surrounded by scrolling foliage and ribbon ornaments on a black ground, with Latin text along the right edge.
Woodcut or letterpress printed historiated initial letter M, white capital against a densely patterned black ground of scrolling acanthus foliage, with small Latin text visible at upper corners.
Woodcut or engraved decorated initial letter M in white on a black ground, surrounded by densely interlaced foliage, figures, and grotesque forms in a Renaissance historiated border style.
Woodcut historiated initial letter P on black ground, with a helmeted figure and bird within the curved bowl, surrounded by dense foliage and scrollwork.
Woodcut historiated initial letter D in black and white, enclosing a medallion with a male profile portrait in right-facing view, flanked by foliate scrollwork and small figural motifs; the letters CA appear at the top border.
Woodcut or letterpress ornamental initial letter 'U' with dense black background, enclosing a circular medallion with a rearing animal figure, surrounded by scrolling foliage, birds, and grotesque figures.
Woodcut historiated initial letter U on black ground, with a profile portrait bust in a circular medallion at center, surrounded by dense foliage, scrollwork, and foliate ornament in white on black.
Woodcut historiated initial letter 'L' in black and white, with a medallion portrait of a bearded male figure in profile at center, surrounded by foliage, scrollwork, and small human figures on the borders; Latin lettering visible within the design.
Woodcut decorative initial letter 'D' with dense black foliage and scrollwork, enclosing a medallion portrait of a bearded figure in profile, surrounded by the text 'CA' above and 'COL' below.
Woodcut or engraving of an ornamental capital letter U, with a profile portrait medallion at center, surrounded by dense foliate scrollwork and figural grotesques on a dark crosshatched background.
Woodcut or engraved decorative initial letter 'D' surrounded by dense foliate ornament, with a medallion portrait of a bearded man in profile at center and small figural scenes in the margins.
Woodcut or engraving of an ornate historiated initial letter, with a bearded male profile in medallion at center, surrounded by dense foliate and scrollwork decoration in black and white.
Woodcut historiated initial letter U with dense foliate scrollwork; a medallion at center contains a male profile in side view with curly hair, surrounded by the letters C, A, M, and L at the borders.

Unknown, Sixteen Ornamental Letters (M, P, Q), 16th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Salzer, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
Sixteen Ornamental Letters (M, P, Q)
Place Made
Germany
Date Made
16th century
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
Sheet: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. (3.18 x 3.18 cm) each
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Salzer
Accession Number
53.31.2.13a-p
Classification
Prints
Collecting Area
Prints and Drawings
Selected Bibliography
  • Gerlach, Martin. Das Alte buch und seine ausstattung vom XV. bis zum XIX. jahrhundert. Vienna, Leipzig: Gerlach & Wieldling, 1915.