As the iconography suggests, this initial most likely begins the first response for Vespers of the feast of St. Laurence (Aug. 10), 'Levita Laurentius bonum opus operatus est ...' (The Levite Laurence has wrought good work), although little text survives to confirm this identification. St. Laurence was martyred in 258 during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Valerian. According to his... Initial L with the Martyrdom of St. Laurence of Rome This image shows the reverse of a cutting with a decorated initial from an antiphonary. Initial O with St. Clement praying This initial begins the Response for first Vespers of the feast of St. Clement of Rome (Nov. 23), 'Orante sancto Clemente apparavit ei Agnus Dei, de sub cuius pede fons vivus emanat ...' (While St. Clement was praying, the Lamb of God appeared to him, from under whose foot a living fountain sprang). The text of the chant explains the iconography of the flowing spring water just under Clement's... These cuttings have been dated to ca. 1395. Until his identity was determined by documentary evidence, the illuminator Tomasino da Vimercate was previously known as the anonymous Master of the Modena Hours, after his most characteristic work in a book of hours now in the Biblioteca Estense in Modena, Italy. Tomasino was active in Milan, where he worked for ecclesiastical and lay patrons from ca. 1390 to 1415. He illuminated nine leaves...
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