Manuscript on parchment of Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica, Books I (parts 1 and 2)-II, in an unidentified and freely adapted Italian translation (e.g., the opening portion of Book II is greatly abbreviated).
Description:
Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Sewn on four tawed skin, slit straps nailed in channels on the outside of wooden boards. Yellow edges. Pink, green and cream endbands sewn on five cores. Covered in dark red goatskin with corner tongues, blind-tooled with a central ornament in a panel bordered with rope interlace in concentric frames. Two fastenings, leaf-shaped catches on the lower board and the upper board cut in for the clasp straps. Rebacked twice., Purchased from L. C. Witten in 1955 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written in an elegant, upright mercantesca script by a single scribe, below top line., and Spaces for headings and decorative initials remain unfilled. Initial on f. 1r later addition.
Subject (Geographic):
Egypt--History--To 640 A.D
Subject (Name):
Diodorus,--Siculus
Subject (Topic):
History, Ancient, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Leonardo Bruni, De bello italico adversus gothos, in the Italian version by Ludovico Petroni made in 1456. Preceded by the letter of Leonardo Bruni to Giuliano Cardinal Cesarini (1398-1444).
Description:
Binding: 18th-19th centuries, Italy. "Alla rustica" with grey-green paper added over the spine and part of the boards. Edges yellow., Partial border in inner margin of white vine-stem ornament, f. 1r, on blue, green and pink ground with white and blue dots. In lower border terminals extending in ink hair spray with green, pink and blue flowers and gold balls frame central medallion with a crude outline drawing of a head in profile (later addition?). Two decorated initials, 4- to 3-line, gold on blue, pink and green grounds with white vine-stem ornament. On f. 1r initial joined to partial border. Heading on f. 1r in red., and Script: Written by a single scribe in fere-gothic script, above top line.
Subject (Geographic):
Rome--History
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Italian literature--15th century, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on paper (unidentified watermarks along upper edge) of Ps.-Dionysius the Aereopagite, De ecclesiastica hierarchia, translated into Latin by John the Scot.
Description:
Binding: Nineteenth century. Quarter bound in brown leather with olive green paper sides. Parts of edges daubed bluish-green., Purchased from C. A. Stonehill in 1957 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written by a single scribe in a stylized gothic script., and Spaces for decorative initials left unfilled. Headings, paragraph marks and running headlines in red.
Subject (Name):
Erigena, Johannes Scotus,--ca. 810-ca. 877 and Pseudo-Dionysius,--the Areopagite
Subject (Topic):
Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Mysticism--Early works to 1800
Manuscript on paper of 1) Leonardo Bruni, La prima guerra punica, in an anonymous Italian translation. 2) Leonardo Bruni, Vita di Dante. 3) Leonardo Bruni, Vita di Francesco Petrarca.
Description:
Binding: Twentieth century, England (?). Hard-grained, brown leather case. Gold-tooled title and date on spine: "L. Bruni Guerra Punica/ Vite di Dante e Petrarca/ MS. Sec. XV". Bright blue marbled edges., Decoration of poor quality: 12-line divided initial in red and blue, f. 1r; 5-line blue initial with red penwork decoration, f. 51v; 5-line divided initial red and blue, f. 51r. Plain red and blue initials, 4- to 3-line, alternate throughout. Headings in bright red., Purchased from H. P. Kraus in 1957 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Written by two scribes: ff. 1r-51v in humanistic semi-cursive script, above top line; ff. 51v-59v in fere-humanistic script, above top line., and Watermarks: similar to Briquet Monts 11684.
Subject (Name):
Dante Alighieri,--1265-1321 and Petrarca, Francesco,--1304-1374
Subject (Topic):
Biography--Middle Ages, 500-1500, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Punic wars
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
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 (hair side yellow and speckled) of Walter Burley, De vita et moribus philosophorum; an abridged translation that contains only 77 lives.
Description:
Belonged to Giuseppe (Joseph) Martini from whom it was acquired by H. P. Kraus, who sold it in 1956 to Thomas E. Marston., Binding: Nineteenth century, Italy. Tan calf, blind- and gold-tooled. Head and fore edge bluish green; lettering on tail edge. In panels on spine: "Detti de' filosofi/ MSS. in Perg./ Sec. XV"., Script: Written in a humanistic hand both above and below top line by Johannes Nydenna de Confluentia, who would sometimes complete the final word of the final line of text (recto only) by writing the letters down between the outer vertical bounding lines., and Space left for decorative initial on f. 1r later filled with plain initial and a stylized sprig of flowers, in turquoise. Plain intials throughout text alternate in red and blue.
Subject (Topic):
Biography--Middle Ages, 500-1500, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Philosophy, Ancient
Aurispa, Giovanni, ca. 1376-1459 Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444 Griffolini, Francesco, 1418-1483 Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, 6th cent. B.C Plutarch Tibullus
Published / Created:
[between 1450 and 1475]
Call Number:
Marston MS 100
Image Count:
224
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper of 1) Phalaris, Epistolae, translated into Latin by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to Malatesta Novella of Cesena. 2) Unidentified couplet. 3) Ps.-Brutus, Epistolae, translated by Rinuccio Aretino and dedicated to Pope Nicholas V. 4) Ps.-Plutarch, Epistola ad Traianum. 5) Ps.-Philip of Macedon, Epistola ad Aristotelem. 6) Plutarch, Pyrrhus (extract), Lat. tr. of Leonardo Bruni. 7) Ps.-Caesar, Epistola ad Ciceronem. Arts. 8-11 are excerpts from an 11th- or early 12th-century supplement to Curtius Rufus, Historia Alexandri Magni. 12) Ps.-Phalaris, Epistula ad Demotelem, Lat. tr. Giovanni Aurispa. 13) Tibullus (attributed), Priapea I.
Description:
Binding: Date? Italy (?). Sewn through pieces of vellum. Limp vellum case with title in ink on spine: "Phalaridis Epistole". Badly worm eaten., Purchased from C. A. Stonehill in 1955 by Thomas E. Marston., Script: Arts. 1 and 3-12 written in humanistic cursive by a single scribe, above top line; arts. 2 and 13 added in a more flamboyant style of humanistic cursive., Two illuminated initials, 4-line, gold against blue, green and dark red grounds with white vine-stem ornament and white dots. From the corners issue penwork inkspray with leaves, green with yellow or gold highlights, and blue or red blossoms, extending into margins to form partial border. Plain initials alternate in blue and red. Headings in pale red., and Watermarks: similar in design to Briquet Fleur 6597, 6601.
Subject (Name):
Phalaris,--Tyrant of Agrigentum,--6th cent. B.C
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin letters, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Curlo, Giacomo Griffolini, Francesco, 1418-1483 Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, 6th cent. B.C Pliny, the Younger Plutarch
Published / Created:
[ca. 1450]
Call Number:
Marston MS 51
Image Count:
538
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper (slightly polished) of 1) Giacomo Curlo, Preface addressed to Ferdinand I of Naples. 2) Giacomo Curlo, Epitoma Donati in Terentium. 3) Antonio Cassarino, Preface addressed to Giacomo Curlo. 4) Plutarch, Apophthegmata, Latin translation by Antonio Cassarino. 5) Phalaris, Epistolae, translated by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to Malatesta Novella of Cesena. 6) Phalaris, four additional Epistolae, translated into Latin by Francesco Griffolini of Arezzo and dedicated to King Alfonso I of Naples. 7) Pliny, Epistolae I.1-III.15.
Description:
Acquired from C. A. Stonehill in 1954 by Thomas E. Marston., Binding: Fifteenth century, Spain (?). Original wound sewing on four tawed skin, slit straps laced through tunnels in the edges of wooden boards to channels on the outside and pegged. Yellow edges. The beaded chevron endbands are sewn with red and yellow thread on tawed skin cores laid in grooves in the boards. Covered in brown sheepskin with the surface mostly worn off; decorated with concentric frames, the central panel and one frame filled in with square goat (?) and flower tools standing on a point. Title in ink on a paper label, now mostly wanting. Four truncated diamond-shaped catches on the lower board have a raised design of the Virgin and child and a flower., F. 140 lacking., Plain lumpy initials, 3- to 2-line, alternate blue and red. Headings and paragraph marks in red., Script: Written in an unusual style of loose and sloping humanistic script with cursive features; angular, little shading of letters, well spaced., and Watermarks: ff. 1-112, similar to Briquet Lettre R 8941; ff. 113-160 and 209-256, similar to Briquet Echelle 5904, 5908; ff. 161-208, 257-265, similar to Piccard Kreuz II.616, 619, 622.
Subject (Name):
Curlo, Giacomo, Donatus, Aelius, Ferdinand--I,--King of Naples,--1423-1494, and Terence
Subject (Topic):
Latin letters, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Scholia