Manuscript on paper of C. Iulius Caesar (100-44 B.C.), De bello Gallico; De bello civili; De bello Alexandrino; De bello Africo; De bello Hispaniensi.
Description:
Binding: ca. 1700 (repaired in 1993 by P. Dusel). Brown sprinkled calf over cardboard, gold-tooled: the covers decorated with a double fillet frame, the spine, with seven raised bands, richly decorated. In the second compartment a red title label with gold-tooled inscription “CESARIS / COMMENT/ARII .Ms.” Red edges., Collection of Bernard M. Rosenthal, Berkeley (MS 174). Purchased from Rosenthal on the Edwin J. Beinecke Fund., Pale red headings in Humanistica Textualis, sometimes missing, especially towards the end of the codex. Running headlines in the same colour and by the same hand, “L” in the middle of the verso page, the number in the middle and the title at right on the recto page. Gothic initials at the head of the subdivisions of the text as sketched above (including f. 69r): (1) foliate initials in Lombard style in red and green, filled with blue heightened with white penwork, on a square gold background, up to f. 51r; the opening one (f. 1r) is 9 lines high and has penwork extensions ending in leaves in the left and upper margin (the latter interfering with the heading); the others are 4-5 lines high and have similar sprays in the left margin only; (2) Starting f. 68v (art. 2) blue flourished initials (4-6 lines) with red penwork, the latter extending in the margin., and Script: Copied by one scribe writing a small Gothico-Humanistica with features close to Gothica Semitextualis Libraria.
Subject (Geographic):
Rome--History, Military--265-30 B.C
Subject (Name):
Caesar, Julius
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (39-65), De bello civili (Pharsalia).
Description:
A series of illuminated leaves have been cut out; only the initials at the opening of Books 2, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are preserved. The initials are in Lombard style, pink letters on a blue square background, both decorated with white penwork, and have acanthus extensions of green, orange and yellow in the margin. The decoration is different in each initial; the one on f. 8v contains four yellow flowers. There is no space for a heading at the opening of Books 2 and 5; one line is left free for headings at the opening of Books 8-10, but headings have not been entered., Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Blind-tooled brown leather (worn) over slightly rounded beech boards, part of the front cover and the entire spine missing. Worm holes, especially in the rear board. Sewn on three split leather thongs. On the covers a triple frame of four double fillets; the space between the middle and the inner frame filled with interlace design; the four corners of the central panel are decorated with quarter circles of fillets filled with the same design; in the middle an oblong cartouche; on the front board part of the damaged original cover has been replaced by brown leather blind-tooled with a different interlace design. Marks of four clasps attached to the front board; two lily-shaped brass catches remain, fixed by means of three nails to the outer side of the rear board. On the blank wood of the front board there is a fragmentary inscription in ink and large script (upside down, 16th century?)., and Script: Copied by one hand writing Southern Gothica Semitextualis Libraria/Formata, using the two forms of d. The opening majuscule of each verse is placed in a separate column. The scribe sometimes adds hairline extensions in the upper margin to letters on the top line; the loops of these occasionally contain a sketchy human face.
Subject (Geographic):
Rome--History--Civil War, 43-31 B.C
Subject (Name):
Lucan, 39-65
Subject (Topic):
Epic poetry, Latin, Historical poetry, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Manuscript on parchment of Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae.
Description:
Binding: Date? Original sewing on two thick, slit leather straps, the endbands sewn on leather cores. Flush beech boards with straps laced through tunnels in the edge to channels slanted up to the outer face. The ends of the straps therefore protrude well above the face. Straps nailed and endband cores laid in V shaped grooves and nailed. The spine and about one quarter of the boards covered by brown calf with a nailed parchment strip at the edge, fragments only remaining. No adhesive on the spine. Channels for straps cut in the upper board. Holes for pins in the lower, but no marks of pin plates. This binding could be contemporary or 19th-20th century. It is interesting to note that the manuscript was bought because of the binding and not because of the text., Historiated initial with partial border contains the portrait of Boethius (f. 14r); four illuminated initials of similar design and colors (dark red, red-orange, green, blue, gold) on ff. 6r, 12v, 22r, 29v (beginning of Books II-V). Small initials and paragraph marks in red throughout., and Script: Written in round gothic bookhand by one scribe.
Subject (Topic):
Consolation--Early works to 1800, Dialogues, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Lawrence Justinian, Saint, 1381-1456 Tavelli, Giovanni, 1386-1446
Published / Created:
[between 1450 and 1500]
Call Number:
Beinecke MS 796
Image Count:
466
Resource Type:
Archives or Manuscripts
Abstract:
Manuscript on paper (sturdy) of Laurentius Iustinianus (Lorenzo Giustiniani, 1381-1456), De disciplina et spirituali perfectione monasticae conversationis (De disciplina spiritualium), Italian translation by Iohannes de Tossignano (Giovanni Tavelli da Tossignano, 1386-1446, bishop of Ferrara 1431-1446).
Description:
Binding: Of the original binding the wooden boards (and the gilt and gauffered edges) survive. The boards are now covered with brown 19th-century marbled paper and the spine with cloth-reinforced beige marbled paper. On the latter (now detached) a paper label with handwritten 19th-century inscription: "146. / Anonimo. / Della disciplina et perfectione / de la monastica conversatione. / Cartaceo. / secolo XV."., Collection of Bernard M. Rosenthal, Berkeley (MS 136). Purchased from him in 1994 on the Edwin J. Beinecke Fund., Headings in red ink of various darkness. On f. 1r the Prologue opens with an 8-line Gothic foliate initial L in purple and blue, heightened with white penwork, on a square golden background, containing a stylized flower in purple and yellow with green foliage and ending in blue, purple and green acanthus leaves; on the same page a full floral border in blue, purple and green with a multitude of hairy gold balls. On all the remaining pages the decoration was not executed: the rectangular spaces with guide letters for initials are blank. A 4-line initial was planned f. 5r at the beginning of the text, a 3-line initial at the beginning of chapter 2 (f. 10r), and 2-line initials at the beginning of the other chapters., and Script: Copied by one hand in Italian Gothica Hybrida Libraria/Currens.
Subject (Name):
Lawrence Justinian,--Saint,--1381-1456
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval--Translations, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library, and Monastic and religious life
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
Manuscript on paper (coarse; remains of deckle edges) of 1) Cicero, De oratore I-III. 2) Cicero, Pro T. Annio Milone. 3) Cicero, Pro Q. Ligario.
Description:
Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Stays cut from parchment manuscripts (text washed) inside the quires and also outside the first two. Original sewing on three tawed skin, slit straps attached to wooden boards. Beaded, chevron, natural, pink, and green endbands are sewn on tawed skin cores. Covered in dark brown calf with narrow corner tongues and blind- tooled with two circles and corners of rope interlace in a central panel with concentric frames, one with beaded zigzag ribbon tools similar to those on Marston MSS 38 and 68, and gilt annular dots. Spine: double fillets at head and tail and outlining the bands; panels diapered with double fillets. Two fastenings, the catches on the lower board; the straps and clasps probably later additions., Collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps (no. 2814). Passed from the collection of Giuseppe (Joseph) Martini to H. P. Kraus, who sold it to Thomas E. Marston in 1955., Partial border, f. 1r, white vine-stem ornament on blue, green and pink ground with white and pale yellow dots. At the terminals, gold balls with hair-line extensions. Illuminated initial, 4-line, gold on blue, green and red ground as above joined to the border. In lower margin, wreathed medallion for arms (drawn with a compass), blank. Five smaller initials, 4- and 3-line, gold on blue, green and red rectangular grounds with white or pale yellow filigree and white dots. Headings and colophons in red., Script: Written in a neat upright humanistic cursive by a single scribe., and Watermarks: Briquet Echelle 5904, Briquet Fleur 6306, and similar to Briquet Ciseaux 3668.
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 parchment (poor quality) of Leonardo Bruni, De primo bello punico, compiled largely from Polybius.
Description:
Binding: Nineteenth century, England (?). Quarter bound in red, hard-grained goatskin, gold-tooled, with printed marbled paper sides. Edges spattered yellow and black. Title on spine: "Leonardi Aretini, Commentarii. MS. in membranis"., One large illuminated initial, 4-line, gold on blue, light green and pink ground with white vine-stem ornament. Initial joined to partial border, white vine-stem ornament on blue, light green and pink ground with white dots and gold balls with penwork extensions in brown ink. Two smaller initials on ff. 23v and 38r, 4-line, gold, outlined in yellow on blue grounds with white highlights. Plain initial, f. 1v, and headings in pale red., Purchased from Maggs Bros., London, in 1955 by L. C. Witten, who sold it in the same year in 1954 by Thomas E. Marston., and Script: Text written by a single scribe in humanistic cursive script, above top line. Marginal notes (mostly proper names and events) added by at least two hands, 15th-16th centuries, with one set added throughout in red by a scribe who also placed Roman numerals for each book in upper margin.
Subject (Geographic):
Rome--History, Military--265-30 B.C
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 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
Manuscript on parchment of Valerius Maximus, Dictorum factorum memorabilium ad tiberium cesarem.
Description:
Binding: 18th-19th centuries. Mottled calf case, gold-tooled., Borders cut out on ff. 1r, 45r, and 79r, replaced with parchment, with initials and borders partially restored., Illuminated by Cristoforo Cortese, ca. 1420. Fine historiated initial (12-line) on f. 1r, the author seated at a lectern, pink, purple, green, red, and blue foliage on a gold ground, edged in black, with delicate white highlights; an exuberant vine and foliage border in three margins; the upper margin with a bar, gold and blue, with white highlights. Eight illuminated initials (9- or 8-line) on ff. 14v, 29v, 45r, 61r, 79r, 98v, 115r, 132r in the same style, borders in outer margin. Fine penwork initials throughout, blue with red penwork or vice versa (7- to 4-line). Several lines following initials written in ornate majuscules widely spaced on every other line, filled in with sepia penwork (some left unfinished, especially near end of manuscript). 2-line initials, blue with red or red with blue penwork, less ornate than above. Rubrics missing for major text divisions; paragraph marks in red or blue., and Script: Written by a single scribe in a precise round gothic bookhand.
Subject (Geographic):
Rome--History--Tiberius, 14-37
Subject (Name):
Valerius Maximus
Subject (Topic):
Didactic literature, Latin, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval--Connecticut--New Haven, and Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library