ШІ

ж#

'-я ¿:У;д

Éi

Plate XXIV.—InscriptioiTcut in> Stone by A. E. R. Gill, a.d. 1903.
Reduced .scale). Note.—To view these incised letters have the
light on the left of the plate (or cover with thin tissue-paper).

406

Descriptive Note on p. 422.

decorative in the ordinary sense, they may be said to Notes on
strengthen the thin parts (much as the weakest part of Plates

the loop in an old key was thickened for strength).

Note the right-hand Bows of the ò’s are made thinner,
as though the Rubricator had been afraid of running into
the text in making their last curves—such an expert,
however, may well have had a better reason for it.

PLATE XII.—Illuminated Initial in a Flemish MS.
a.d. 1148. (Latin Bible). Brit. Museum, Addi.

MS. 14790.

(Shown in Brit. Museum, Department of MSS., Case C,

No. 91.)

THE VOLUME—the third, and most interesting,
of this MS. Bible (Numbered 14788-89-90)—contains
223 leaves (17 inches by 1 if inches). MARGINS,
approximately, Inner i¡j inch, Head {cut) 1 inch, Side 2§
inches, Foot 3^ inches. (Between columns inch.)

THE WRITING is a not very legible “Gothic.”

The zigzag tendency exhibited, especially by the word
niniuen (Niniveh), second line, is unsuited for such formal
writing (see p. 420). The rapid placing of the Heads of
the letters is such that they appear broken and partly de¬
tached from the stems. The VERSALS are of a good
type.

THE INITIAL is a monogrammatic ET. The
arms of the round S terminate in leaves folded back, its
form is hollow and inwoven (p. 174), and gives rise to
foliage, which fills the interior—passing over the fish and
behind Jonah. Note also how the jaws of the fish are
interlaced, and how compactly all the parts are put
together.

The close application of the background to the curves
adds to the general compactness, and, together with its
spacing from the straight front, balances the masses
(p. 410): it may be compared to the even spacing of
curved and straight strokes (see fig. 53). There is an
extension of the background to hold the fish’s tail.

407