Artworks

The illumination on this leaf features a richly adorned initial I, showing Saint Augustine of Hippo, which is surrounded by a detailed background that exemplifies the style of the Seneca Master's. The inscription found in the margin refer to the subject of the initial ‘beatum Augustinum cum libro’ (Saint Augustine with a book), who was one of the influential authors of Western philosophy and Christianity.

Additionally, two roundels are placed in the lower margin showing a holy pope reading a book – perhaps Augustine’s contemporary, Saint Damasus, who commissioned the Vulgate translation of the Bible by Saint Jerome – and the second depicting, a bishop-saint attended by a Dominican preaching to laymen.

This splendidly decorated leaf was part of a monumental project for the Church of San Domenico, the burial place of Saint Dominic. The Seneca Master, named after a Seneca manuscript in Paris, led this extensive endeavour, which involved the creation of at least fourteen enormous liturgical manuscripts over nearly two decades. However, his influence extended beyond this series, making him a key figure in Bolognese book illumination during the first two decades of the 14th century. The Neo-Byzantine style, enriched by the contributions of artists like the Gerona Master and Jacopino da Reggio, is evident in the intricate designs and vibrant colours of this miniature.

The Dominican choir books, to which this leaf belongs, form the most important cycle of antiphonals created in Bologna during the early 14th century. They set a precedent for subsequent choir books made for San Domenico and other religious institutions. Nowadays, their remnants magnificently showcase the evolution of Bolognese illumination and its significant role in religious and artistic traditions.