Manuscript on parchment of a summary of Giovanni Villani's Croniche.
Description:
Script: copied by a single hand writing Gothico-Humanistica Libraria on the basis of Italian Hybrida. Pale red headings. Flourished initials with penwork and marginal extensions, 2-line up to f. 16r, generally 3-line from f. 16v onwards. On f. 1r 2-line white vinestem initial incorporated into a border corner piece of the same style. In the lower margin two marks of oval seals (?) and the early number or date “1264”.
Binding: Nineteenth century, England. Bound by Zaehnsdorf (London, 1842-1930) in brown goatskin, blind-tooled, with gold-tooled spine "Cicero" and "MS". Yellow edges. Discoloration on early parchment endleaves reveal traces of corner tongues., Blanks at end not digitzed., Script: The manuscript was copied by two scribes who exhibit distinct formats and scripts reflecting the transition from gothic to humanistic types of book production. Scribe I) ff. 1-107r, line 14. Written in a very fine early humanistic bookhand, above top line. Scribe II) ff. 107r, line 15-135r. Written in a semi-gothic script, below top line, in a style of writing similar to that used by Coluccio Salutati; strong gothic influence in forms of majuscules., and Twenty-three illuminated intials of fine quality, 6- to 2-line, yellow on rectangular bright blue grounds with narrow black frames. Grounds filled with restrained and stylized thin white vine-stem ornament and intricate white filigree. Most spaces for rubrics left unfilled.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Speeches, addresses, etc., Latin
Manuscript on paper of a play in five acts, written for an audience of nuns by a Dominican friar. The only surviving manuscript containing this text.
Description:
Binding: early paper binding., Play (Commedia) in five acts, in verse, about S. Catherine of Alexandria, written for an audience of nuns (see the frequent allusions to Christ as “sposo celeste”) by a Dominican friar whose initials are F.N.F. There are many important changes and additions by a slightly later, rapid hand., and Script: the original text copied by a single hand, writing Humanistica Cursiva. The changes and additions are written in Humanistica Cursiva Currens under Gothic influence.
Subject (Name):
Catherine,--of Alexandria, Saint
Subject (Topic):
Commedia dell’arte, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library