Manuscript on paper (trimmed), with parchment bifolios interspersed, of Julius Caesar, Commentary on the Gallic Wars, translated into French by Jean Duchesne. Written for Jacques Donche, counselor of Charles the Bold of Burgundy
Description:
In French., Watermarks: similar to Briquet Armoires: Trois fleurs de lis 1741., Script: Written in neat batarde script by Hellin de Burchgrave., Ten half-page miniatures, each in an arched frame composed of two thin bands, gold and red highlighted with white, edged in black, the arch with tiny cusps; beneath, initials, 6-, 4-, or 3-line, blue or blue and red with white highlights on a gold ground of irregular shape conforming to the letter, edged in black, with serifs protruding into the left margin; filled with green and/or red and crimson trilobe leaves on curling stems with white and/or yellow highlights, or with a blue, green, crimson, and gold diapered ground with white highlights. Three smaller miniatures, 12- or 14-line, occasionally cut off at the upper edge so as to fill only part of a line of text; frames rectilinear, otherwise identical to those described above, Beneath, 2-line initials, blue, with white highlights, filled with trilobe leaves, as above, once (f. 25r) with one leaf of spiky acanthus added, and once (f. 256r) with a pink ground with gold filigree. There is a blank space on f. 27r for another miniature of this type. Other decoration consists of 2-line calligraphic initials, paragraph marks, line fillers (spirals and heraldic dragons), page and chapter headings, all executed in red. The first one or two lines of some books (as well as occasional lines within the text) are underlined in red., A few folios have tears in the margins., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Spattered and gilt edges. Red goatskin, gold-tooled, with the arms of Eugene of Savoy on cover and his monogram on spine.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Gaul
Subject (Name):
Caesar, Julius.
Subject (Topic):
French literature, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
Manuscript fragment on parchment of Ps.-Dionysius Areopagita, De caelesti hierarchia, translated into Latin by Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253), with his commentary
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in Northern Gothica Textualis Libraria in two sizes. The large script used for the text itself is written every two lines. The cursive r-abbreviation could point to England, the z standing on the line and the occasional use of j instead of i reminds us of Spain, the "horn" at the head of r is especially typical of German scribes., and The decoration consists of plain late Romanesque initials in red (2 lines).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite. and Franciscans
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Astronomy, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Scholia
Manuscript on parchment of Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae, translated into French by Renaut de Louhans. As the translator states in the prologue, his work incorporates material from a commentary on Boethius made by another member of the Dominican order (Nicholas Trevet) as well as his own digressions
Description:
In French., Script: Written in batarde by a single scribe., Two intricate penwork initials, 5-line, on ff. 1r and 2r in red and blue; less detailed penwork initials, 3-line, in same colors throughout text; first letter of each verse stroked in red., and Binding: 17th-18th centuries. Brown spattered calf, with peculiarly striped turn-ins. Title, in gold, on spine: BOECE EN VER FRANC.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Boethius, -524., Trivet, Nicholas, 1258?-1328., and Dominicans
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Consolation, French poetry, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment (goatskin) of Antonio Beccadelli (Antonius Panormita, 1394-1471), De dictis et factis Alfonsi regis, Ital. translation. With Giovanni Gioviano Pontano (Iohannes Iovianus Pontanus, 1426-1503), De principe, Ital. translation
Description:
In Italian., Script: Written by one hand in a slightly shaky Southern Gothica Textualis Formata (Rotunda), the majuscules partly in Roman Capitals. Headings in clumsily executed Capitals with crossed letter I., Headings in red. 2- or 3-line plain initials alternately red and blue, with guide-letters. Larger initials with some flourishing at the beginning of each work., and Binding: Eighteenth century (?). White parchment over cardboard. On the spine the title is written "Panormit: de' Fatti d'Alfonso, e Pontano del Princip: MS." and at the bottom, partly worn off, the early shelf-mark "Cass. 1 58 an (?) x9".
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Italy
Subject (Name):
Beccadelli, Antonio, 1394-1471.
Subject (Topic):
Didactic literature, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Politics and government
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Dares Phrygius, De excidio Troiae historia, in the Latin translation ascribed to Cornelius Nepos, followed by the lists of those killed by the heroes on both sides. 2) Geoffrey of Monmouth (Galfredus Monemutensis, d. 1154), Historia regum Britanniae. 3) De origine Normannorum, a short history of Normandy up to Henry I, King of England and Duke of Normandy (d. 1135). The main part of this text derives from Hugh of Saint-Victor (Hugo de Sancto Victore, d. 1141), Excerptiones allegoricae, X, 10 (PL 177.284) and is followed by a short list of Dukes of Normandy. 4) Three unidentified poems on the miracles of St. Benedict, followed by rhymed liturgical prayers to be said in the presence of the relics of the saint, and another poem on St. Benedict. This manuscript, which from the beginning contained all four texts described above, was copied in a Benedictine abbey
Description:
In Latin., Script: Carefully copied by one hand in Northern Gothica Textualis Libraria., Headings and running titles in red, many now poorly legible. Heightening of majuscules in red. Large decorated Romanesque initials, red or green, at the head of artt. 1 and 2; 2- or 3-line plain initials alternately in red and blue and 1-line initials in the same colours in the middle of the text in art. 2; on f. 91r, at the beginning of Book XI, there is a 3-line flourished initial in blue with red penwork, which may be added later. 3-line red plain initial at the beginning of art. 3. 2-line initials in art. 4, of the same kind as in artt. 1-2., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Sprinkled calf over cardboard; the covers have gilt edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., Great Britain, Normandy (France), and Troy (Extinct city)
Subject (Name):
Dares, Phrygius. and Benedictines.
Subject (Topic):
Devotional literature, Latin (Medieval and modern), Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
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 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 parchment of Aristotle, Ethica. An anonymous Tuscan translation made for Nuno de Guzman from the Latin translation of Leonardo Bruni
Description:
In Italian., Script: Text written in a well formed humanistic bookhand by a single scribe; the rubrics, in majuscules, by another scribe who used excessive punctuation., The decoration is by Gioacchino de' Gigantibus. A gold initial, 5-line, on f. 1r embedded in white vine ornament, extending into sides, top, and lower margin, filled in with green, red, and blue, with small section at regular intervals filled with gold; a green bird near the initial; in lower margin, an empty laurel wreath supported by putti filled later with a coat of arms (unidentified) in pen, now effaced; a few gold dots with hair-spray in brown ink. Other initials, gold, 5- to 4-line, on ff. 7r, 93v, 106v, 126r, 161v, in same manner, but with gold infilling., Significant stains in margins of first few leaves., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Edges gilt. Green calf with tan, gold-tooled label.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Aristotle.
Subject (Topic):
Ethics, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript on paper (sturdy), composed of two volumes formerly bound as one. Volume I (ff. 1-55): Historia Alexandri Magni compiled largely from the version of Archpresbyter Leo, translated into Italian. Volume 2 (ff. 56-115): Leonardo Bruni, De primo bello punico, translated into Italian
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: similar in design to Briquet Chapeau 3369-70, unidentified mountain., Script: Written by a single scribe in careless notarial script., Blank spaces for headings that would have also included the first few words of text., and Binding: Twentieth century. Brown decorated paper cases with blank and inscribed labels.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Alexander, the Great, 356-323 B.C.
Subject (Topic):
Italian literature, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Punic wars