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Gallery

Illuminated Initials

Many medieval manuscripts are full of decorated capital letters that come in all styles and sizes. But what was their purpose? Read in [**our blog**](https://www.europeana.eu/blog/lighting-the-way-how-illuminated-initials-guided-medieval-readers-through-books)!

Curated by

Published gallery

St. Stephen I (pope)

Master of the Modena Book of Hours

National Library of the Netherlands

A Levite sacrificing

National Library of the Netherlands

St. Hildegundis

National Library of the Netherlands

National Library of the Netherlands

Saint Ambroise, en buste, dans la lettre D

Ministry of Culture

Moses holding the Tables of the Law

National Library of the Netherlands

A male saint (St. Philip?) holding a lance or spear

Master Azor, follower

National Library of the Netherlands

The Crucifixion, with Mary and St. John

National Library of the Netherlands

St. Fabian, Bishop of Rome, holding a book and St. Sebastian holding a book

National Library of the Netherlands

La lettre B historiée, avec saint Michel combattant le dragon

Ministry of Culture

Christ appellant André et Simon dans une initiale A

Ministry of Culture

Biblia S. Novi Testamenti Cum Interpretatione S. Hieronymi Nominum Hebraicorum

necunoscut

National Library of Romania

Bern, Burgerbibliothek, Cod. 3 : Biblia latina (Vulgata), Part 1: Genesis to Psalms

Augustinus, Aurelius

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

St. Michael holding a sword and scales

Master of the Modena Book of Hours

National Library of the Netherlands

The Nativity: Mary lies in bed, St. Joseph holds the Christ-child

National Library of the Netherlands

Unknown

University of Edinburgh

Breviary, circa 1300

Unknown

University of Edinburgh

David playing the harp

National Library of the Netherlands