Manuscript fragment, on parchment, in Gothic bookhand, produced in the Netherlands during the fourteenth century. Der Leken Spieghel is a Middle Dutch rhymed Biblical epic, composed between 1325 and 1330. This leaf, a binding fragment, contains a portion of Book II which deals with the lineage of Joseph and Mary
Description:
Jan van Boendale is also called Jan Decker and Jan de Clerc., In Middle Dutch., and Illuminated miniatures at chapter headings.
Subject (Name):
van Boendale, Jan, d. 1365.
Subject (Topic):
History of Biblical events, Poetry, and Dutch poetry
Manuscript on parchment roll, composed of 15 membranes, of a Chronicle of biblical world history and the genealogy of the kings of England
Description:
In Middle English., Script: Written by a single scribe in a somewhat rough textura., The genealogical diagrams, which are fitted into the empty spaces between the columns of text, begin with a roundel formed of concentric bands of blue, gold and red with a miniature of Adam with Eve, who is being handed an apple by the serpent. From the roundel of Adam and Eve to the Ascension of Christ the successive Biblical names, framed in orange or green squares, are linked by a continuous band in blue, red and gold. The names of the ancestors of the Kings of England, starting with Brutus, appear in red or blue circles, surmounted by gold crowns. Other names are in plain red circles. Linking lines in the genealogies are in red or green. At the appropriate places in the text are inserted schematized diagrams in red and green ink of Noah's Ark, a plan of the Israelite camp in the desert and a plan of the city of Jerusalem., One large illuminated initial for the prologue, 8-line, mauve and blue with white filigree against gold ground thinly edged in black. The initial is filled with a large flower, red, yellow and green, and curling acanthus, orange and green extending into the margin and continued as black inkspray with large leaves, heart-shaped or acanthus, blue, pink, orange, white and green with white filigree, a large orange and gold flower, smaller leaves in gold with blue and pink, gold dots and small green leaves, extending into the upper and left margin to form a partial border. Smaller illuminated initial for the beginning of the main chronicle, 5-line, gold on blue and mauve ground with white filigree. Numerous small initials, 2-line, alternate in gold with blue penwork and blue with red. Paragraph marks alternate in red and blue., and Binding: Unbound.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
History of Biblical events, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Kings and rulers, Manuscripts, Medieval, World history, and History
Manuscript on parchment composed of two distinct parts. Part I (13th century): 1) Petrus Comestor, Historia scholastica. 2) Petrus Pictaviensis, Historia actuum apostolorum. 3) Unidentified text about Titus and Vespasian. Part II (14th century): 4) Augustinus Hibernicus, De mirabilibus sacrae scripturae, in the long recension. 5) Extracts from Ambrose, Exameron
Alternative Title:
Historia scholastica
Description:
In Latin., Script: Part I (ff. 1-173): Written in neat gothic bookhand, above top line; glosses added by a variety of hands, some exhibiting anglicana features. Part II (ff. 174-197): Written in gothic bookhand with some marginalia by contemporary and later hands., Part I: Two illuminated initials in parallel positions on f. 1r, beginning mid-page and extending almost to the bottom of the leaf. The first initial composed of a gold trellis edged in black with heads of a grotesque devouring the trellis at top and bottom, and foliage designs in green and white scrolling around the body of the initial against pink interior with white highlight and gold balls. The whole on a rectangular ground tapering to a point at bottom, with white designs. The second initial, somewhat narrower and less ambitious in design, gold edged in black with blue interior and thin white design in center and two rosettes, one at top, the other at bottom, and a third stylized floral motif in center, all on a pink ground in the same shape as the first initial. Also on f. 1r, 7-line initial divided red and blue with interior foliage designs in green and white on parchment ground, and red and blue penwork designs around exterior of letter. For major text divisions, fine medium blue and/or red initials, 9- to 6-line, with intricate penwork flourishes in red and blue, each accompanied by several lines of oversize letters for the first few words of text, with letters either in one color with designs in the other or alternating red and blue. Small penwork initials, red or blue with modest design in the opposite color, throughout. Headings, running headlines and vertical lines within text columns, in red. Remains of instructions to rubricator (some perpendicular to text in gutter) and guide letters for decorator., Part II: One gold initial, 4-line, with purple penwork designs on f. 194r. Blue initials with red penwork, 9- to 2-line, throughout. Headings and initial strokes added, in brown and red, unsophisticated drawings of birds, animals, leaves and grotesques in upper and lower margins., and Binding: 18th-19th centuries, England. Brown calf, gold-tooled. Striped turn-ins.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Petrus, Comestor, active 12th century
Subject (Topic):
History of Biblical events, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, and Manuscripts, Medieval
