Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444 Burlaeus, Gualterus, 1275-1345? Homer Vegio, Maffeo, 1406 or 7-1458
Published / Created:
[ca. 1450 or between 1450 and 1475]
Call Number:
Marston MS 91
Image Count:
370
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
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:
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"., Purchased from L. C. Witten in 1955 by Thomas E. Marston., 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 Watermarks: unidentified crown over five-pointed star in upper margin, trimmed.
Subject (Topic):
Biography--Middle Ages, 500-1500, Dialogues, Latin (Medieval and modern), Epic poetry, Greek, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript fragment on one leaf of parchment of Homer, Ilias, 24.493-536 (lines 501-02 are nearly illegible).
Description:
In Greek., Script: Written by one hand in Greek minuscule, using brown ink; some accent marks added later in black., 1-line initial in red., and Discoloration, rubbing and punctures across lines 9-11, effacing some of the text; was once used as a binding reinforcement.