Manuscript on parchment (palimpsest) of 1) Francesco Barbaro, De re uxoria, with his dedicatory preface to Lorenzo di Giovanni de' Medici. 2) Leonardo Bruni, Oratio Heliogabali ad meretrices. 3) Plato, Crito, the first version of the Latin translation by Leonardo Bruni (1420s). 4) Xenophon, Apologia Socratis, translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni. 5) The ps.-Virgilian Epistola Virgilii ad Maecenatem written by Pier Candido Decembrio as a young man in 1426; he had difficulty convincing his contemporaries that it was not genuine
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in humanistic bookhand by a single scribe, above top line., Illuminated initial of poor quality, f. 1r, 7-line, gold (almost completely rubbed), with red penwork filigree and small stylized leaves, with some touches of gold. At the top of the page, beneath rubric, arms of the Rustichelli family (per pale, or, a lion rampant sable; or, 4 bars nebuly sable), surrounded by red penwork. Plain initials in red and blue. Headings in red. Some small initials touched with yellow. Off-set impression of eyeglasses on ff. 33v-34r., and Binding: 19th-20th centuries, Germany (?). Case bound with leaves from a parchment manuscript (Breviary, France, 1250-1300). On the front pastedown: rubrics for the major feasts and their octaves occurring in late June (John the Baptist, 24 June) through mid-August (Assumption, 15 August), and the beginning of the lessons to be read within the octave of the feast of John the Baptist; on the back pastedown: end of the lessons for Hilarianus of Arezzo (7 August) and beginning of the second lesson for Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus (8 August).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Barbaro, Francesco, 1390-1454.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment (fine, smooth) of 1) Prologue. 2) Moamin, De scientia venandi per aves, translated into Latin by Theodorus of Antioch. Although the prologue states that there are four treatises composed by Moamin, the fourth (Quartus naturam et medicamen qutrupedum [sic] cum quibus uenamur) is omitted in this manuscript. 3) Treatise of Dancus rex. 4) Treatise of Guillelmus falconarius. 5) Four anonymous descriptions of types of falcons. Produced probably for Ferdinand II of Aragon (arms on f. 1r).
Alternative Title:
Moamin
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in elegant round humanistic script below top line., One miniature, f. 1r, five falcons sitting on a perch in a niche, with a 6-line initial, blue and light green, with green and blue acanthus, against gold, framed in red, with white dots; full border, pink and blue flowers on stems with pink, orange and green leaves and gold dots spiraling around a pink and gold bar; framed in gold and inhabited by birds, putti, four of the putti in lower margin supporting a coat-of-arms. 5-line initials, gold, filled with blue or crimson with flowers in white, on irregular grounds, crimson or blue with flowers in white, and hair-spray extensions with crimson and blue leaves, flowers and gold trefoil leaves or dots. 2-line initials, gold, filled with crimson or blue against irregular crimson or blue grounds with white filigree. Rubrics throughout., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Red goatskin, gold-tooled with "Cetreria" on spine. Gilt edges with lettering on fore-edge.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Falconry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper of Konrad von Megenberg (1309-1374), Die deutsche Sphaera, an adaptation in German of Iohannes de Sacrobosco, De sphaera. With 23 verses dealing with the numerical value of the letters of the alphabet, excerpted from Hugutio of Pisa (d. 1212), Liber derivationum
Description:
In German., Script: Copied by one hand in Gothica Cursiva Libraria/Currens., The initials are not executed. Coarsely drawn diagrams; the principal ones are on ff. 2r (Earth in the middle of the circles of the elements, the planets and the heavens), 9v (a quadripartite circular map of the world, three quarters covered with sea and inhabited by fish), 10v (a circular diagram and another with "cauda Draconis" and "caput Draconis"), 11r (two diagrams showing eclipses), 11v (related diagrams)., and Binding: Yellow limp vellum too large for the present manuscript.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Sacro Bosco, Joannes de, fl. 1230.
Subject (Topic):
Astronomy, German poetry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Numerology, and Science, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (highly polished) of 1) Walter Burley, De vita et moribus philosophorum. 2) Mapheius Vegius, Declamatio seu disputatio inter solem, terram et aurum. 3) Selected speeches from Homer, Iliad IX (Oratio Ulixis, Responsio Achillis, Oratio Phoenicis) translated into Latin and with a preface by Leonardo Bruni
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: unidentified crown over five-pointed star in upper margin, trimmed., Script: Written by a single scribe in humanistic cursive script with gothic features, above top line., The decoration consists of an elaborately illuminated page (f. 1r) in a style influenced by the "Master of the Vitae Imperatorum" who was active in Milan in the second quarter of the 15th century. Included in the full border of curling inkspray with heart-shaped and trefoil leaves in green, flowers in blue, red, pink and mauve, a strawberry, and gold balls is a standing figure of a naked boy holding a scroll inscribed with the motto "Seul e la fin." At the corners four quatrefoil medallions bordered in gold with portraits of philosophers against blue grounds with gold filigree. In lower border unidentified arms (quarterly, 1 and 4 or a millrind gules, 2 and 3 or a lion azure; with a bishop's mitre and crozier); in upper border a scroll with same motto as above. One historiated initial, f. 1r, 7-line, formed of acanthus leaves, mauve and red on gold ground, containing a portrait of the author against blue ground with gold filigree. One illuminated initial, 6-line, in mauve on gold ground with stylized foliage in green and blue with yellow highlights. In the text blank spaces for headings and initials., and Binding: Nineteenth century, England. Straight-grained brown leather, gold tooled. Edges gilt. Bound by F. & T. Aitken. Title on spine: "Diogenis Laertii Philosophorum Vita et Dicta. Codex MS. Saec. XV".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Burlaeus, Gualterus, 1275-1345?
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern), Epic poetry, Greek, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript on parchment (hair side yellow and speckled) of Walter Burley, De vita et moribus philosophorum; an abridged translation that contains only 77 lives
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written in a humanistic hand both above and below top line by Johannes Nydenna de Confluentia, who would sometimes complete the final word of the final line of text (recto only) by writing the letters down between the outer vertical bounding lines., Space left for decorative initial on f. 1r later filled with plain initial and a stylized sprig of flowers, in turquoise. Plain intials throughout text alternate in red and blue., and Binding: Nineteenth century, Italy. Tan calf, blind- and gold-tooled. Head and fore edge bluish green; lettering on tail edge. In panels on spine: "Detti de' filosofi/ MSS. in Perg./ Sec. XV".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Burlaeus, Gualterus, 1275-1345?
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript on paper of Jeronymo Osorio, Della nobilta civile, translated into Italian by Bernardo Gandino
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: unidentified angel similar to Briquet 662, but with BFF as countermark., Script: Written in a calligraphic italic script by Bernardo Gandino of Treviso, with frequent corrections., and Binding: 19th-20th centuries. Paper case with decorated paper sides. Bookblock detached.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Italy.
Subject (Name):
Osório, Jerónimo, 1506-1580.
Subject (Topic):
Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Nobility
Manuscript on paper of Jerome, Epistolae, etc., translated into Italian by Ser Nicolaus Berti Martini de Gentiluzis de Sanctogeminiano, a notary in Florence (ca. 1388-1468). With Ps.-Augustine, Epistula ad Cyrillum, concerning the death of St. Jerome
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: similar to Piccard Schere III.710, Briquet Chapeau 3387; unidentified eagle., Script: Written by a single scribe in a small upright gothic script with both notarial and humanistic influence, above top line., One illuminated initial, f. 4r, 6-line, gold, filled with red and blue penwork in geometric patterns. The penwork extends the whole length of the text column to form a partial border, terminating in the upper and lower margins in a scroll of blue penwork with small flowers, heart-shaped leaves and red dots. Numerous penwork initials of good quality, 5- to 2-line, alternate in red and blue with purple and red penwork respectively, often extending into the margins. Headings in red. Majuscules and display script touched with yellow., and Binding: ca. 1500, Florence. Sewn on three tawed skin, slit straps attached to oak boards, with brown and natural color endbands (later additions?) sewn on tawed skin cores laid in grooves on the outside of the boards. Covered in orange/brown sheepskin neatly blind-tooled with rope interlace in concentric frames. Spine: double fillets at head and tail and outlining the supports on the spine; fine diapering with double fillets in the panels. Four flower-shaped catches on the lower board, two wanting. Remains of vellum label (worm eaten) on the spine and pieces of string used as place marks. Off-set impressions of medieval liturgical manuscript on front and back pastedowns. Orange edges. Sticky from excessive oiling.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Jerome, Saint, -419 or 420.
Subject (Topic):
Christian legends, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin letters, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper of 1) Phalaris, Epistolae, translated into Latin by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to Malatesta Novella of Cesena. 2) Unidentified couplet. 3) Ps.-Brutus, Epistolae, translated by Rinuccio Aretino and dedicated to Pope Nicholas V. 4) Ps.-Plutarch, Epistola ad Traianum. 5) Ps.-Philip of Macedon, Epistola ad Aristotelem. 6) Plutarch, Pyrrhus (extract), Lat. tr. of Leonardo Bruni. 7) Ps.-Caesar, Epistola ad Ciceronem. Arts. 8-11 are excerpts from an 11th- or early 12th-century supplement to Curtius Rufus, Historia Alexandri Magni. 12) Ps.-Phalaris, Epistula ad Demotelem, Lat. tr. Giovanni Aurispa. 13) Tibullus (attributed), Priapea I.
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: similar in design to Briquet Fleur 6597, 6601., Script: Arts. 1 and 3-12 written in humanistic cursive by a single scribe, above top line; arts. 2 and 13 added in a more flamboyant style of humanistic cursive., Two illuminated initials, 4-line, gold against blue, green and dark red grounds with white vine-stem ornament and white dots. From the corners issue penwork inkspray with leaves, green with yellow or gold highlights, and blue or red blossoms, extending into margins to form partial border. Plain initials alternate in blue and red. Headings in pale red., and Binding: Date? Italy (?). Sewn through pieces of vellum. Limp vellum case with title in ink on spine: "Phalaridis Epistole". Badly worm eaten.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Alexander, the Great, 356-323 B.C. and Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, 6th cent. B.C.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin letters, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (slightly polished) of 1) Giacomo Curlo, Preface addressed to Ferdinand I of Naples. 2) Giacomo Curlo, Epitoma Donati in Terentium. 3) Antonio Cassarino, Preface addressed to Giacomo Curlo. 4) Plutarch, Apophthegmata, Latin translation by Antonio Cassarino. 5) Phalaris, Epistolae, translated by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to Malatesta Novella of Cesena. 6) Phalaris, four additional Epistolae, translated into Latin by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to King Alfonso I of Naples. 7) Pliny, Epistolae I.1-III.15.
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: ff. 1-112, similar to Briquet Lettre R 8941; ff. 113-160 and 209-256, similar to Briquet Echelle 5904, 5908; ff. 161-208, 257-265, similar to Piccard Kreuz II.616, 619, 622., Script: Written in an unusual style of loose and sloping humanistic script with cursive features; angular, little shading of letters, well spaced., Plain lumpy initials, 3- to 2-line, alternate blue and red. Headings and paragraph marks in red., and Binding: Fifteenth century, Spain (?). Original wound sewing on four tawed skin, slit straps laced through tunnels in the edges of wooden boards to channels on the outside and pegged. Yellow edges. The beaded chevron endbands are sewn with red and yellow thread on tawed skin cores laid in grooves in the boards. Covered in brown sheepskin with the surface mostly worn off; decorated with concentric frames, the central panel and one frame filled in with square goat (?) and flower tools standing on a point. Title in ink on a paper label, now mostly wanting. Four truncated diamond-shaped catches on the lower board have a raised design of the Virgin and child and a flower.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Donatus, Aelius., Alfonso V, King of Aragon, 1396-1458., Curlo, Giacomo., Ferdinand I, King of Naples, 1423-1494., and Terence.
Subject (Topic):
Latin letters, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholia
Manuscript on parchment (palimpsest: written over an unidentified canon law text, 1250-75) of Epitome of Aristotle's Ethics translated into Italian by Taddeo d'Alderotto (ca. 1235-1295).
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written in a calligraphic notarial hand with tall ascenders and strongly looped forms of letters d and b, above top line., Spaces left for decorative initials remain unfilled., and Binding: ca. 1900, England or U.S.A. (?). Quarter bound in orange goatskin with a gold-tooled label on spine ("Aristotle. Ethica, in Italian. XIVth Century") and marbled paper sides. Edges gilt.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Alderotti, Taddeo, 1223-1295. and Aristotle.
Subject (Topic):
Ethics, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
