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.
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.
