Manuscript on paper of 1) Aeneas Gazaeus, Theophrastus, translated into Latin by Ambrogio Traversari. 2) Life of St. Helenus, monk in Egypt. Text is an extract (incomplete) taken from the Latin translation by Rufinus of the Historia monachorum, ch. 11.
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: Briquet Fleur 6306, and unidentified shrub, ff. i-viii, in gutter; Briquet Tete humaine 15617., Script: Written in humanistic script by a single scribe, above top line., One large illuminated initial, 5-line, of modest quality, in gold with black accents on a multicolored ground of red, blue and green with white vine-stem ornament and white dots. One smaller initial (unfinished), parchment color on blue ground with white vine-stem ornament. On f. 1r, in lower border an unidentified coat of arms: vert a chief sable (?), overall a lion (?) rampant gules (or purpre?) on the main field and or in chief and with bend (tincture undetermined) overall; the whole shield overpainted in black. Headings in red., and Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Vellum stays are adhered in and outside the paper gatherings. Original sewing on three tawed skin, kermes pink, slit straps which go through tunnels in the edges of wooden boards to channels on the outside where they are pegged. The primary endband, sewn on a tawed skin core, is gilt with traces of a red secondary endband. A design is scratched on the gilt edges. Covered in brown sheepskin with corner tongues and blind-tooled with progressively taller concentric frames alternately decorated with five small tools. Five flower-shaped bosses on each board, some wanting, and four fastenings, leaf-shaped catches on the lower board, the upper board cut in for the clasp straps which are attached with star-headed nails. Rebacked.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Gazaeus, Aeneas.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Desert Fathers, Dialogues, Greek, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Monks
Manuscript on paper of an unidentified treatise, incomplete, on the Cardinal Virtues; material taken mostly from Valerius Maximus, with additional material from Augustine, the Bible, Cicero, Seneca, Macrobius, Aristotle, and Vegetius
Description:
In Italian., Watermarks: similar to Briquet Coutelas 5157, 5159., Script: Written by a single scribe in humanistic cursive script with notarial features, above top line., 28 pen and watercolor initials, heavily influenced by Greek models, 24- to 10-line (with larger initials at the main divisions for Justice on f. 1r, Prudence on f. 8r, Temperance on f. 14r, and Strength on f. 25r), in green, red or pale purple on paper ground, with intricate designs of scrolling and intertwining vines, pale yellow with touches of unburnished gold, terminating in spiky leaves. Berries, pale purple, red or green with geometric pen designs attached to the vines. Folio 1r, ends of initial S terminating in dragon heads; ff. 14r and 25r, unidentified arms (or, 2 or 3 bars nebuly purpure), incorporated into the initial. Sketches, in lead, visible beneath most initials. Headings in red. Majuscules touched with yellow., and Binding: 19th-20th centuries, Italy. Paste-paper case binding in yellow, green and red.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Valerius Maximus.
Subject (Topic):
Cardinal virtues, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
