historiated initial

In a medieval illuminated manuscript, an initial letter (the first letter of a sentence, verse or chapter) enclosing a scene or figures. Also called an inhabited initial.

Screen Shot 2014-12-21 at 10.48.55 AMInitial R fom a manuscript of the Moralia in Job.  Ms. 173 folio 4 verso. Ca. 1115-1125. Bibliothèque Municipale, Dijon, France.