The Ross Bible (Ross.183) can be dated to the end of the 13th century and belongs to the Fondo Rossiano collection of the Vatican Apostolic Library.
This precious manuscript, entirely made of parchment, is written in black ink along two columns.
The many illuminated initials attributed to the hand of the Master of Sant’Alessio in Bigiano are of great value. There are 79 large figurative letters, 2 small ones, and 126 aniconic initials (without figures).
The extraordinary richness of the volume is emphasized by the use of gold, not only in the most relevant initials but also in those without figures. This suggests that the commission came from an important institution or from a prominent figure, perhaps related to the Franciscan order given the presence of Friars Minor in some of the figurative illuminations.
In the displayed volume, showing the initial page of the Book of Genesis, the rich illumination of the letter “I” from the sentence IN THE BEGINNING can be admired.
