Gregorius I. Papa
A medieval manuscript from around 1080, probably a Latin text associated with Pope Gregory I, preserved by the e-codices Swiss virtual manuscript library. The one picture is a large red decorated initial H, its stems and crossbar filled in flat red on pale vellum with faint underlying script showing through. A designer could take from it the bold, simple geometry of a single-letter initial and the strong contrast of one red colour against cream parchment.
