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:
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)., 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., Purchased in 1957 from H. P. Kraus by L. C. Witten, who sold it in 1959 to Thomas E. Marston., and Script: Written in humanistic bookhand by a single scribe, above top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Boethius, De topicis differentiis.
Description:
Binding: Date? Limp vellum case with title, in ink, on spine: "Topica boetij"., One historiated initial, f. 1v, blue with white filigree and highlights against a square reddish brown ground with white filigree, showing Boethius as a monk in a blue robe seated on a chair and holding a scroll inscribed with his name, and a disciple, dressed in a red robe and holding a book inscribed with the opening words of the text proper, both figures against a grey ground with white filigree. Three illuminated initials, ff. 7v, 16v, 23r, 6- to 4-line (without ascenders or descenders), blue with white filigree against reddish brown ground with white filigree or reddish brown against blue ground with white filigree. The initials are filled with scrolling vines blue or reddish brown with white highlights, with stylized leaves, ending in dragons' heads against reddish brown or blue grounds. Descender, f. 16v, in form of a dragon, reddish brown against blue ground. Flourished initials, 2-line, and paragraph marks alternate red and blue., and Script: Written in compact gothic bookhand by a single scribe, below top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin literature, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment (hair side mottled) of Suetonius, De vita Caesarum.
Description:
Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Resewn on four supports and rebacked. Edges yellow. Covered in brown leather over wooden boards, blind-tooled with concentric frames alternately filled with rope interlace. A triple cross in the central panel. Badly cut tools and impressions burned into the leather. Four fastenings, the catches on the lower board., Floral border in lower margin, pen inkspray with flowers in blue, red, green and pink, and gold balls, surrounding a wreathed medallion with unidentified arms (azure 3 bendlets argent, a chief or with 3 birds sable beaked and membered gules) and the initials VI and M (arms and initials are later additions), on a parchment ground. 12 illuminated initials, 8- to 6-line, gold. Some against green and red grounds with yellow and white highlights, filled with yellow shaded white vine-stem ornament against blue, green and red grounds with white and yellow dots. Other initials on blue, green and red grounds with yellow shaded white vine-stem ornament, yellow and white dots. Initials on ff. 1r, 26v, 83v, 119r, 140r, 170r are enclosed within faceted rectangular frames. Headings and marginal notes by original scribe in red., Illuminated title page with partial border in upper and inner margin, white vine-stem ornament against vibrant blue, green and red ground with white dots and gold balls, terminating in pen inkspray with gold balls and large blossoms, yellow and red with gold highlights in upper margin, blue with white highlights in inner margin. Inner margin interrupted by a scrolling banderole (no inscription) in blue and red with white highlights., and Script: Written by a single scribe in a round humanistic script that inclines slightly toward the left.
Subject (Name):
Caesar, Julius and Suetonius,--ca. 69-ca. 122
Subject (Topic):
Biography--To 500, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin prose literature, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
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 on parchment of Uguccione Pisano (d. 1210), Derivationes.
Description:
Part II written in Italy in the middle of the 13th century; Part I added in the 14th century when the two parts may have been bound together.
Subject (Name):
Uguccione,--da Pisa, Bishop of Ferrara,--d. 1210
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin language--Etymology, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Scholasticism
Jerome, Saint, d. 419 or 20 Rufinus, of Aquileia, 345-410
Published / Created:
[ca. 1430-40]
Call Number:
Marston MS 198
Image Count:
232
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper of 1) Jerome, Dialogus contra Pelagianos, Books I-III. 2) Rufinus Tyrannius, Apologia contra Hieronymum. 3) Jerome, Apologia contra Rufinum, Books I-II. 4) Jerome, Ad Algasium liber quaestionum undecim (Letter 121). 5) Anonymous, Disputatio de ratione anime. 6) Origen (?), translated into Latin by Jerome. 7) Jerome, Ad Hebydiam de quaestionibus duodecim (Letter 120). 8) Jerome, Ad Algasium liber questionum undecim (Letter 121), ending abruptly in the tenth questio. 9) Epistola ad Demetriadem de virginitate et vitae perfectione. 10) Jerome, Epistola CVIII ad Eustochium virginem, on St. Paula. 11) Jerome, Epistola CXLII ad Augustinum.
Description:
Binding: 19th-20th centuries. Rigid vellum case with the title in ink on the spine: "Dialogi Pelagii et Attici"., One 4-line illuminated initial, f. 1r, shaded pink with red and green acanthus leaves on dark blue with white filigree against a gold ground edged thickly in black. In the upper left corner a red, blue and gold flower with spiralling acanthus in the upper and inner margins, forming a partial border, green, blue, red, brown, the spirals filled with gold or blue with white filigree. Large gold dots with four black spikes. Numerous pen and ink initials, 5- to 1-line, alternating in red and blue with purple or red penwork. Headings in red. Instructions to the rubricator at lower edge, f. 1r., Purchased in 1958 from C. A. Stonehill by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written by two scribes. Scribe 1 (ff. 1r-76v) in a fere-humanistic hand with features of round humanistic; Scribe 2 (ff. 76v-109v) in a more angular fere-humanistic hand., and Watermarks: similar to Briquet Monts 11895 and 11702; unadorned anvil similar to Harlfinger Enclume 5; unidentified letter (D?) similar in general design to Harlfinger Lettre 14.
Subject (Name):
Jerome,--Saint,--d. 419 or 20
Subject (Topic):
Apologetics--Early works to 1800, Celibacy, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Alexander of Villa Dei, Doctrinale.
Description:
Binding: Nineteenth century, England. Light brown leather, gold-tooled. Gilt edges. Rebacked. Title on spine: "Alexander de Villa Dei Doctrinale. MS: In Memb". Bound for Henry Drury by C. Lewis in 1820., One historiated initial, f. 1r, 6-line, pink, red, and green with white filigree on gold ground thinly edged in black, with a half-length portrait of a teacher in red robes and a red cap holding a book, against a blue ground with white filigree. In the lower margin arms of the Pesaro family of Venice (per pale indented or and azure), framed by scrolling acanthus, green, red, blue, and pink. Plain initials and paragraph marks both alternate blue and red. Headings in red., and Script: Written in round gothic bookhand by a single scribe, below top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin language--Grammar, Latin poetry, Medieval and modern, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on paper of 1) Note on the reign of the first Doge of Venice, Pauluccio Anafesto (697-717). 2) History of Venice from its legendary foundation to 695. 3) Alphabetical list of Venetian noble families, with their coats of arms and notes on their history. 4) History of the Doges of Venice up to Francesco Venier, elected 1554, d. 1556, with their coats of arms.
Description:
Binding: Date? Pasteboard., In Italian., Painted coats of arms, those in art. 3 in decorative cartouches. Large decorative painted initials for each family name., Script: Copied by two hands. A (ff.IIr and 1r-84v): Gothica Cursiva Libraria/Currens; B (ff. 85r-170r): Humanistica Cursiva Currens., and The top and the lower corners of the final leaves badly damaged by moist, with loss of some text.
Subject (Geographic):
Venice (Italy)--History
Subject (Topic):
Heraldry, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Nobility--Italy
Manuscript fragment on parchment (damaged). The one side has fine drawings of a king and queen (with falcon) in elaborate robes. Beside them is a foot soldier in armor; below a warrior on horseback, in armor, pursued by an archer, without armor. Above is a centaur (Chiron?) shooting an arrow at a flying bird, a second bird on the ground. On the other side (much affected by paste) three warriors storm a tower.
Description:
Removed from Marston MS 89 where it was used as a front pastedown. and See catalogue entry for Marston MS 89.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment (hairside yellow and speckled) of Cicero, Epistolae ad familiares. With Extract from Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae III.8.8: Epistula Fabricii et Aemilii consulum ad Pyrrhum regem. The text was copied ca. 1400 and the border decoration added between ca. 1415 and 1431.
Description:
14 elegant illuminated initials and partial borders at the beginning of each of the 16 books (the opening pages of Books XII and XV have been excised). Initials, 5- to 3-line, blue with white filigree or red with gold filigree on cusped grounds of gold. Most of the illuminated initials filled with bust-length portraits, presumably of Cicero's correspondents, on red, blue or diapered ground. Some initials filled with vine scrolls with trilobe leaves in red with white highlights against gold ground. Partial borders, scrolling vine with trilobe leaves or acanthus in blue, pink, red and gold with white highlights and green, red and blue with gold highlights. Small figures of angels, dressed in green with gold wings in borders or margins, some playing musical instruments, one holding an open book, one holding the cloth of Veronica. Other marginal figures include the "Agnus Dei" and a pelican piercing its breast. The figures are all characterized by white faces, small angled black eyes, and a preference for green and gold, the green with contour lines in gold. Plain initials alternate red and blue. Rubrics throughout., Binding: Nineteenth century, France (?). Red velvet case with a dark green gold-tooled label: "M. T. Ciceronis Epistolae Ad Familiares MS. in Membranis". Gilt edges., Imperfect: incomplete, some leaves wanting with loss of text., and Script: Written in a neat fere-humanistic hand by a single scribe, below top line.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library