( fl c. 1230–60). English illuminator. A William de Brailes (variously spelt) is cited in six documents (c. 1230–60) relating to Oxford. These establish that he lived with his wife Celena in Catte Street among other professionals engaged in book production. None of these documents, however, mentions his trade. It seems most probable that the documented William de Brailes may be identified with the illuminator W. de Brailes, whose name appears in two manuscripts associated with Oxford. The name occurs twice in a Book of Hours (c. 1240; London, BL, Add. MS. 49999; see GOTHIC, fig. 64), beside historiated initials that open the final prayers. Both initials contain the bust of a tonsured figure, one of which (fol. 43r) is identified by a caption in French that clearly identifies his profession: w. de brail’ qui me depeint. In the Last Judgement miniature of the six leaves from a Psalter in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (c. 1240; MS. 330, leaf 3), the artist is shown being rescued from hell by the avenging angel, and is identified by the scroll he holds, inscribed w. de brail’ me fecit (see fig.).

• William de Brailes
  • works
    • Book of Hours, §1: Evolution and content
    • Border, manuscript
    • England, §III, 1(ii): Painting and graphic arts, c 1066–c 1450
    • Gothic, §IV, 2(i): Manuscript painting
    • Gothic, §IV, 5(ii): Painting: Parisian and related styles, c 1240–c 1320
    • Oxford, §2(i): Art life and organization, before c 1536
    • Perrins, Charles William Dyson