Jacopo Filippo d' Argenta

Jacopo Filippo d' Argenta is documented as an illuminator and manuscript artist active circa 1475. His recognized output consists entirely of liturgical manuscripts, specifically Graduals, which were large service books containing the sung portions of the Mass. D’ Argenta specialized in the creation of highly detailed initials that integrated complex figural narratives with elaborate decorative schemes.

Five distinct manuscript fragments are represented in museum collections, demonstrating the artist’s characteristic style. These leaves typically feature decorated initials, exemplified by pieces such as the Leaf from a Gradual: Decorated Initial (verso). More specific iconographic subjects appear in works such as the Leaf from a Gradual: Initial (M) with St. Andrew (recto) and the Leaf from a Gradual: Initial (R) with Mass for the Dead (recto). The preservation of these unique fragments provides insight into late 15th-century illumination practices.

The verifiable corpus of d' Argenta's work is held in major institutions, establishing its historical and artistic credibility, notably including the Cleveland Museum of Art. Today, the detailed nature of Jacopo Filippo d' Argenta prints and manuscript pages often allows for their broad accessibility as downloadable artwork, ensuring the survival of documentation concerning these high-quality prints and illuminations.