Manuscript on parchment of Plutarch, Vitae, translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written in an upright italic by a single scribe., Small, 4-line, white vine initials, one to commence each work, gold, infilled with pink and green with white dots, all on a blue ground; gold dots and hairsprays., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Green goatskin with red labels on spine. Delicately gold-tooled.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Rome
Subject (Name):
Plutarch.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and History
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 parchment of 1) Dedicatory epistle of Leonardo Bruni to Niccolo Niccoli. 2) Plutarch, Vita Ciceronis. 3) Plutarch, Vita Demosthenis. 4) Dedicatory epistle to Niccolo Niccoli. 5) Xenophon, Hiero. All translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni. In this manuscript the treatises are not identified, nor is the translator, but the dedicatory epistles to Niccolo Niccoli serve to indicate both author and translator
Description:
In Latin., Written in humanistic script by a single scribe., No headings or ornamentation; the manuscript was apparently never finished., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Straight-grained black goatskin, gold-tooled.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cicero, Marcus Tullius., Demosthenes., Niccoli, Niccolò, ca. 1364-1437., and Plutarch.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Dialogues, Latin, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment of 1) Plato, Phaedo, translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni and preceded by his prefatory letter to Pope Innocent VII. 2) Xenophon, Hiero (Tyrannus), translated into Latin by Leonardo Bruni and preceded by his prefatory letter to Niccolo Niccoli
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in a somewhat angular humanistic bookhand., Decorated in the early style of Gioacchino de' Gigantibus. On f. 1r a partial border in upper, lower and inner margins, white vine-stem ornament on blue, green and dark pink with grey dots on blue grounds, blue dots on pink grounds, and gold balls. In lower border, medallion framed by gold interlace bands and supported by two putti wearing red necklaces, with a coat of arms, now erased, on green ground. Four illuminated initials, 7- to 5-line, in gold, framed in yellow, on blue, green and red grounds, with dots as above. Initial on f. 1r, inhabited by standing putto wearing a red necklace, is joined to the border. Other initials have vine-stem decoration extending into the margins and terminating with groups of three gold balls. Headings and names of interlocutors in red., and Binding: Between 1800 and 1810, Italy. Rigid vellum case with the title gold-tooled on a label on the spine: "Leon. Aret. Opus". Gilt edges and faint lettering on the head edge.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Hieron I, Tyrant of Syracuse, -467 B.C. or 466 B.C., Innocent VII, Pope, 1336-1406., Niccoli, Niccolò, approximately 1364-1437., and Plato.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Dialogues, Greek, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy, Ancient
Manuscript on paper of 1) Prologue by the translator, addressed to Henry of Lusignan, Prince of Galilee (d. 1427). 2) Plutarchus (c. 46-120), Vita Luculli, Latin translation by Leonardus Iustinianus (Leonardo Giustiniani, 1388-1446). 3) Plutarchus, Comparatio vitarum Cimonis atque Luculli, Latin translation by Leonardus Iustinianus
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by one scribe in a broad Humanistica Textualis Formata of "typographic" character and marked by unusual features such as the occasional use of round s in medial position and long i in final position, and inconsistencies in the use of ae/ẹ, the form of final s and m, etc. Majuscules at the beginning of lines protrude into the margin. Line fillers in the shape of expunged i., Headings in pale red. Art. 1 opens with a 6-line initial in red with the pen drawing for unexecuted white vinestem decoration. The 6-line initial at the head of art. 2 is purplish red on a blue background delicately heightened with silver arabesques, extended in the margin with red and green acanthus leaves. At the bottom of the same f. 387r there was a coat of arms flanked by two fleur-de-lys and four balls in purplish red and blue and red ribbons; the coat of arms has been cut out and the page has been repaired with a piece of paper; on it a modern coat of arms accompanied by the initials W and S (Walter Sneyd) is drawn in pencil., and Binding: 19th century. Quarter brown leather (with corners) and reddish brown marbled paper over cardboard. Gold-tooled flat spine with inscription: “PLUTARCHI VITA LUCULLI LATINE M.S.”.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cimon, d. ca. 450 B.C., Lucullus, ca. 117 B.C.-ca. 56 B.C., and Plutarch.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Literature, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (sturdy) of classical Orations, Lives, and Exempla, followed by Excerpts from Valerius Maximus, Excerpts from Xenophon (translated into Latin by Francesco Filelfo), Seneca's Tragedies, Comedies by Terence and Plautus, and other miscellaneous works
Description:
In Latin., Unidentified watermarks buried in gutter include hat, ladder, crossed arrows, cross bow., Script: Written by two scribes: Scribe 1 (ff. 1r-152v) wrote in a careful humanistic script for text and modified capitals for headings; Scribe 2 (ff. 153r-167v) retained the overall format but used a less elegant style of writing., and Binding: Eighteenth century. Plain sheepskin case.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Classical literature, Latin drama (Comedy), Exempla, Manuscripts, Medieval, Speeches, addresses, etc, and Latin drama (Tragedy)
Manuscript on parchment (hair side mottled) of Suetonius, De vita Caesarum
Description:
In Latin., Script: Written by a single scribe in a round humanistic script that inclines slightly toward the left., Illuminated title page with partial border in upper and inner margin, white vine-stem ornament against vibrant blue, green and red ground with white dots and gold balls, terminating in pen inkspray with gold balls and large blossoms, yellow and red with gold highlights in upper margin, blue with white highlights in inner margin. Inner margin interrupted by a scrolling banderole (no inscription) in blue and red with white highlights. Floral border in lower margin, pen inkspray with flowers in blue, red, green and pink, and gold balls, surrounding a wreathed medallion with unidentified arms (azure 3 bendlets argent, a chief or with 3 birds sable beaked and membered gules) and the initials VI and M (arms and initials are later additions), on a parchment ground. 12 illuminated initials, 8- to 6-line, gold. Some against green and red grounds with yellow and white highlights, filled with yellow shaded white vine-stem ornament against blue, green and red grounds with white and yellow dots. Other initials on blue, green and red grounds with yellow shaded white vine-stem ornament, yellow and white dots. Initials on ff. 1r, 26v, 83v, 119r, 140r, 170r are enclosed within faceted rectangular frames. Headings and marginal notes by original scribe in red., and Binding: Fifteenth century, Italy. Resewn on four supports and rebacked. Edges yellow. Covered in brown leather over wooden boards, blind-tooled with concentric frames alternately filled with rope interlace. A triple cross in the central panel. Badly cut tools and impressions burned into the leather. Four fastenings, the catches on the lower board.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Caesar, Julius. and Suetonius, approximately 69-approximately 122.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Latin prose literature, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on calfskin parchment of Augustine's Confessions, with alphabetical index; also includes Augustine's Retractions
Description:
In Latin., Script: copied by one hand in Gothica Hybrida Formata., Decoration: Stroking of majuscules, paragraph marks, underlinings and headings all in red. 3-line plain initials alternately in red and blue at the opening of the chapters, sometimes with white decoration. Generally undecorated after f. 36., and Binding: original, brown leather over wooden boards. Spine has four raised bands. The covers are blind-tooled with frames and lozenges traced in triple fillets and floral designs. Red leather tabs at the beginning of each book of the art. 2 and at the beginning of art. 3.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430.
Subject (Topic):
Biography, Manuscripts, Medieval, Theology, and History
Manuscript on paper of 1) Augustine of Hippo, Confessions; Retractiones. 2) Matthaeus de Cracovia, Tractatus de confessione et puritate conscientiae. 3) Thomas Aquinas, De perfectione spiritualis vitae. 4) Bernard of Clairvaux, De consideratione. 5) Series of short texts, including works by Bernardus de Reyda, Guillelmus Bloc, and Iacobus de Iüterbog
Description:
In Latin., Script: Probably copied by 10 hands: scribe (A), Cornelius de Middelburg alias de Clinghe, writing Gothica Hybrida Libraria (Bastarda), ff. 1r-104r8 (artt. 2, 3, and the beginning of 4); scribe (B), writing a more rapid Semihybrida, ff. 104r9-113r (central part of art. 4); scribe (C), writing Semihybrida Libraria, ff. 113v-125r (final part of art. 4); scribe (D), writing Semihybrida Libraria/Currens, ff. 125v-126v (art. 5); scribe (E), writing Hybrida Currens, ff. 127r-127bis v and 139r bottom lines-148v (beginning and final part of art. 6); scribe (F), writing Hybrida Currens, ff. 128r-139r bottom lines (central part of art. 6); scribe (G), writing Hybrida Libraria, ff. 149r-155v15 (artt. 7 and beginning of 8); scribe (H), writing Semihybrida Libraria, ff. 155v16-220v (main part of art. 8); scribe (I), Arthurus Reyniers, writing Hybrida Libraria, ff. 225r-247r (artt. 9-11); and scribe (K), writing Cursiva Currens (art. 12)., Decoration: Differs according to the various sections of the manuscript, but in general, there are red headings; red stroking of majuscules; red underlining; and 2- or 3-line red plain initials, sometimes with interior reserved shapes (mostly missing ff. 132v-148v and after f. 215r). Folios 151r-220r (art. 8) contain red numbering. Folio 1r contains red or blue 3- or 4-line flourished initials with interior reserved shapes and developed penwork in the contrasting colour, extending into the margin., and Binding: Original brown calfskin over bevelled oak boards, damaged, sewn on four leather thongs. Both covers are blind-tooled with frame, lozenge and triangle patterns; stamped with rosette, fleur-de-lys, star, "ihs", and dragon patterns. The remains of two leather straps are attached to the rear board, associated with pins (lost) on the front board. The endleaves are fragments of bifolia from a 14th cent. parchment liturgical manuscript.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430., Mateusz, z Krakowa, Cardinal, ca. 1330-1410., Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274., and Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 1091-1153.
Subject (Topic):
Adultery (Canon law), Biography, Christian literature, Latin (Medieval and modern), Manuscripts, Medieval, and Simony (Canon law)
