Artwork
Initial D
Initial D is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Master of the Cypresses. It dates from 1434 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Initial D is a miniature drawing on vellum created around 1434 by the Master of the Cypresses, a painter and manuscript illuminator active in Seville.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts an ornate letter 'D' filled with flowers and leaves, arranged in a circular pattern with some stems extending outward. The letter is rendered in gold with blue and white details, set against a light beige background.
Technique & Style
The artist blended Italian influences with early Netherlandish painting styles, as evident in the use of cypress motifs and the figural scenes within the letter.
History & Provenance
The Master of the Cypresses was active in Seville between 1420 and 1440, and is identified by the recurring cypress tree motif in historiated initials for Seville Cathedral.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
The Master of the Cypresses is a notname invented by the art historian Diego Angulo Íñiguez in 1928 for a painter and manuscript illuminator working in Seville around the years 1420–1440.
