Albergati Bible


Description

Title
Albergati Bible
Published / Created
1428
Publication Place
Italy
Abstract
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Bible in the usual order with some prologues. 2) Index of Hebrew names generally attributed to Stephen Langton. 3) Chapters 25-29 of the Testament of the 12 Patriarchs. Written for Cardinal Niccolo Albergati.
Description
Binding: 19th-20th centuries. A painted design under the gilt fore edge. Red velvet binding.
First two leaves slightly creased.
From the collection of A. Chester Beatty (Western MS 79). Acquired from H. P. Kraus in 1969 as the gift of Edwin J. Beinecke.
Ornamental initials (5 to 6-line) at the beginning of the prologues in red, blue, orange, and/or green, acanthus infilled red with white filigree against irregular gold grounds; gold against cusped pink and blue backgrounds with white filigree; some rinceaux initials in Franco-Flemish style, pink or blue with white highlights against cusped gold grounds. 2 and 1-line initials, gold on red and blue grounds with white filigree. Running titles in alternating red and blue letters or in gold against red and blue rectangular grounds with white filigree. Line fillers (ff. 617r-682r) in red, blue and/or gold. Chapter numbers in red or blue. Rubrics throughout.
Script: Written in rounded gothic bookhand.
The Bible is a splendid example of the Italian late gothic illuminated manuscript. The decoration consists of two very richly illuminated pages (f. 5r, Genesis; f. 272r, Psalms), thirteen small miniatures (ff. 1r, 570v-576v), and 79 historiated initials, 7 to 10-line (not including ascenders or descenders) at the beginning of every book of the Bible, the sections of the Psalter, and a few prologues. The miniatures are in thin gold or yellow frames. The historiated initials are composed of acanthus, mauve, blue, pink, orange, and/or green. At least four artists collaborated in the illustration and decoration of the codex. On virtually every folio, recto and verso, are elaborate bar borders, in margins and/or between text columns, full or half-length, gold, blue, green, pink, and/or orange with white filigree, some with curling acanthus, leafy midpoints and terminals with acanthus and hair-spray extension. On folios with miniatures or initials, more elaborate borders (full borders on ff. 1r, 5r): curling hair-spray with gold dots and trefoil leaves, spikey ivy, pink, blue, orange and green flowers, putti, insects, birds, grotesques and, on f. 348v, a marginal scene, lower left corner, a fowler chasing rabbits.
Extent
ff. i + 682 + i : parchment ; 231 x 161 (135 x 111) mm.
Extent of Digitization
Completely digitized
Language
Latin

Collection Information

Call Number
Beinecke MS 407

Subjects, Formats, And Genres

Format
text
Genre
Bible
Hand coloring
Historiated initials
Illuminated manuscripts
Illustrations
Rubrics
Resource Type
Archives or Manuscripts
Subject (Name)
Langton, Stephen,--d. 1228
Subject (Topic)
Bible.--Latin--Versions--Vulgate
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library

Access And Usage Rights

Access
Public
Rights
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Citation
Albergati Bible. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. and Shailor, B. Catalogue of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS 407.

Identifiers

Orbis Record
9734763
OID
2003431
More Information
https://pre1600ms.beinecke.library.yale.edu/docs/pre1600.ms407.htm

Tools