Manuscript on paper of a miscellany. The manuscript seems to be a compilation organized, corrected and expanded by a single person specialized in pharmacology and medicine and interested in natural history, encyclopedical knowledge and history
Description:
In Latin with some Czech (?), German, and Hebrew., Watermarks: crown (var. Briquet 4616?), circles (var. Briquet 3194?), bull's head (?)., Script: Copied by various scribes, writing Gothica Cursiva Libraria or Currens in various sizes, often very small; ff. 127r-143r, 7 are in a markedly different, larger form of Gothica Cursiva Libraria., The decoration is unevenly spread: heightening of majuscules and plain initials in red. On ff. 162-170 alternance of red and green initials, on f. 162r flourished initial in the same colours. Artt. 21 and 22 are not illustrated, although the text mentions figurae., At many places the paper is deteriorated by the acidity of the ink., and Binding: Original limp parchment. A bifolium from a German manuscript in Gothica Cursiva, worn and stained, lined with a German document on parchment in Gothica Cursiva Antiquior/Recentior. Leather spine stiffener with ornamental stitching.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Alchemy, Christian literature, Latin (Medieval and modern), Manuscripts, Medieval, Medicine, Medieval, Natural history, and Pharmacology
Manuscript on parchment (trimmed) of Hebrew Scripture. Written for Jacob, son of Rabbi Benjamin of Montalcino
Description:
In Hebrew., Script: Written in cursive Italian Hebrew script, with square initial letters., The extremely fine decoration is in the Florentine style of the third quarter of the 15th century. Two full-page miniatures: f. 2v David beheading Goliath (Psalms) and f. 110v Job on the dunghill, with the three tempters. Miniatures accompanied by elegantly illuminated full borders of pink and blue flowers with green stems and yellow fruit issuing from yellow vases; gold dots and hair-spray. Putti and brightly colored birds appear among foliate ornamentation. Polylobed and circular medallions with miniatures in borders. Other borders, without miniatures, contain medallions of busts of prophets, some holding scrolls. One border f. 30v without medallions. Borders of ff. 30v, 80r, 111r are less carefully executed than rest of illumination and may be by another artist. The opening word of Psalms 42, 73, 90 and 107, as well as of Job and Proverbs, occurs in a panel with foliate borders in burnished gold. First letter in each chapter of Psalms, and first word in each chapter of Job and Proverbs framed in red or blue (one in gold, f. 111r) with purple or red penwork flourishes., and Binding: Seventeenth century. Red calf over beech boards, gold-tooled with a floral border and flower vases and arabesques in the center. Gilt, gauffered edges and woodblock paste paper endleaves and pastedowns.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment and paper of Adriano Castellesi, Sermone Latino et Modis Latine Loquendi, a Latin grammar, with other texts
Description:
In Latin, Hebrew and Greek., Script: copied by one hand in two sizes, using for both Gothico-Humanistica Cursiva. Greek handwriting occurs here and there; Hebrew in Hrabanus Maurus, In Hieremiae Lamentationes and for the Hebrew alphabet; the Hebrew samples on ff. 113v-114r are in large angular calligraphic script., Black plain initials, 2-3 lines. Written in campo aperto in one or two columns., and Binding: original limp parchment binding with flap and engraved brass clasp; sewn on three split leather thongs. Red leather tabs.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Castellesi, Adriano, approximately 1461-
Subject (Topic):
Latin language, Grammar, and Manuscripts, Medieval
In Hebrew., Script: written in an unidentified script., and This fragment is contained in Zi +3487.3 (Pius II, Epistolae in cardinalatu editae), around which it is used as a covering.
