Artwork
Initial A
Initial A 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 A 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 features a decorated Gothic letter 'A' with a dragon-like creature and a scene of fantastical animals inside, set against a warm golden background.
Technique & Style
The work showcases the artist's use of intricate decoration and color, reflecting influences from Italian artists like Giotto and early Netherlandish painting traditions.
History & Provenance
The Master of the Cypresses was identified by Diego Angulo Íñiguez in 1928 and is named for the cypress trees in his historiated initials for Seville Cathedral.
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.
