London: Christopher Barker, 1578

This title border of this 1578 edition of the Book of Common Prayer depicts the Evangelist’s symbols (the angel for Matthew, the lion for Mark, the ox for Luke and the eagle for John) in the corners, with the personifications of Faith and Humility on the side. It was printed in colour by masking with a frisket sheet, and typical elements were accented in red: symbols of authority (the crown) and red things (the pot of paint used by the angel, representing Luke painting the Virgin Mary).

SSS.23.4, title page