Single Leaf from an Antiphonary: Initial H[odie nobis] with The Nativity
![Single Leaf from an Antiphonary: Initial H[odie nobis] with The Nativity by Benvenuto di Giovanni (Italian, 1436–1509/17)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.artheonmuseum.org%2Fcleveland%2Fthumb%2Fsingle-leaf-from-an-antiphonary-initial-h-odie-nobis-with-cleveland-129858.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Medium
ink, tempera, and gold on parchment
Dimensions
56 × 40 cm
Classification
Manuscript
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1952.282
Tags
male
About this artwork
This initial h introduces the first matins response for Christmas Day: Hodie nobis celorum rex (“On this day the King of Heaven”). Illustrating this artist’s love of fantastic detail, an entwined dragon climbs the ascender of the h. Christ’s nativity is within the letter, complete with adoring shepherds. Above is the figure of Christ blessing, surrounded by singing angels intended to suggest the heavenly realm. Benvenuto is first recorded in 1453, when he is known to have been working on the fre...