Decorated Roman alphabet 1485 - 1499

This anonymous woodcut from the late 15th century, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a decorated Roman alphabet letter "F." The letter is framed by ornate floral motifs and a small, seated monkey holding a flower in its mouth. This type of decorative letter, known as an "initial," was often used to begin chapters or sections in books printed during the late medieval and early modern periods. These initials frequently incorporated human figures, animals, or other symbolic imagery, adding visual interest and highlighting the importance of the text they introduced.