Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, ca. 329-379 Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444
Published / Created:
[between 1450 and 1500]
Call Number:
Marston MS 105
Image Count:
59
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript composed in two parts. Part I (on parchment): 1) Basil the Great, De legendis libris gentilium, translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni and with his dedicatory preface to Coluccio Salutati. 2) Unidentified poem. 3) Benedictus Cingulanus (Benedetto da Cingoli), Carmina. Part II (on paper) : 4) Ps.-Seneca, De remediis fortuitorum.
Description:
Binding: Sixteenth century, Italy. Front and rear pastedowns from an unidentified Latin moral treatise (Italy, ca. 1450). Sewn on three supports set in grooves on the outside of wooden boards. Plain wound endbands. The spine is round. Covered in brown calf, blind-tooled wtih an arabesque border and a central diamond with assorted fleurons. Aldine leaves and acorns dotted about. Spine: four fillets at head and tail and outlining the bands. There are five large, round bosses on each board and two fastenings, the catches on the upper board and the lower one cut in for the straps, one of which is wanting., Part I: Decoration consists of one illuminated full border, f. 2r, white vine-stem ornament with pale yellow shading on vibrant blue ground, green and deep purplish red and gold ground with white dots on blue, pale yellow dots on green and red. In lower border, medallion, framed by a wreath, with mutilated coat of arms. Illuminated initial, 4-line, gold, framed in pale yellow, on blue, green and red ground with yellow and white filigree, joined to the border. One large illuminated initial, f. 1r, gold on blue, green and red ground with white vine-stem ornament, extending into the upper and inner margin to form partial border. Small initial, 2-line, gold, framed in yellow, on red, blue and green gound with yellow filigree, f. 3r. Headings in red. Part II: Initials for paragraphs set apart from written space between vertical bounding lines., Purchased from the Florence dealer Olschki by H. P. Kraus, who sold it in 1955 to Thomas E. Marston., Script: Part I (ff. 1-17): Art. 1 written in a humanistic bookhand characterized by tall ascenders, above top line; arts. 2-3 added later in a less expert hand. Part II (ff. 18-25): Written in humanistic cursive script by a single scribe, above top line., Stained throughout., and Watermarks: unidentified basilisk buried in gutter.
Subject (Topic):
Classical education, Dialogues, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin poetry, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library