Search Results: Medieval Life from Les Enluminures

ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF A CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY IN LATE FIFTEENTH AND EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY FRANCE. In Latin, manuscript on paper, France (Arles), late 15th-early 16th century (1476-1503). Dimensions c. 310-315 × 225-230 mm (but ff. 139-248: c. 300 × 215 mm.), 252 folios on paper, a dozen watermarks, missing eleven leaves, written in multiple hands including a Gothic semi-hybrida and several very current Gothic cursiva hands, some with Secretary features, in 48-50 long lines. BINDING: early stiff vellum binding, detached at left board to reveal three bands, with two undyed ties of woven linen ribbon threaded through each board. TEXT: this codex holds records of 'Arrentements,' a form of lease, of the Chapter of the Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles covering c.1476-c.1503. Providing insights into the daily operations of a cathedral community in late fifteenth and early sixteenth century France, this treasure trove of administrative documents will be… Read More

ILLUMINATED CALENDAR FROM A PARISIAN PRAYER BOOK. In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, France (likely Paris), c. 1400-1420. Dimensions 155 x 107 mm. 12 folios on parchment, (collation, one quire of twelve leaves), ruled in plummet, written in a gothic quadrata bookhand in black and red ink on 17 long lines, with 12 illuminated initials in burnished goldleaf on grounds of blue and purple with white tracery, with ivy leaf foliate and floral ornament in goldleaf extending into margin in the upper left quadrant of the leaves.
BINDING:Modern binding in quarter black Morocco. TEXT: Calendars from medieval manuscripts are rich sources for anyone who wants to learn about the medieval world. Without today's modern devices, they were how people knew what day it was and calculated the special feast days, such as Easter, that were so important to religious life. Most feasts were written in black (or dark brown) ink, whereas the more important feasts appear in red (hence, our term "red-letter day,"… Read More

SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ILLUMINATED DOCUMENT FOR A SPANISH NOBLE FAMILY. In Spanish, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Spain (Valladolid), May 8, 1622. Dimensions 310 x 220 mm., 87 folios complete, some leaf and quire signatures, prickings visible, written in a humanist bookhand in 28 long lines, headings in gold capitals on grounds of blue and dark red, TWO FULL-PAGE MINIATURES. BINDING: Modern (19-20th century?) reddish purple velvet binding over wooden boards, with a center ornament and border impressed in the velvet, two ornamental silver clasps, housed in a protective box. TEXT: This Carta Executoria, granted on behalf of King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665), authenticates the nobility of Juan de Nurueña y Alava, thereby granting him exemption from taxes along with other perks. Our document is the formal copy that was commissioned and retained by the family, copied in a beautiful script, and lavishly illuminated. ILLUSTRATION: Two full-page miniatures. f. 2v,Immaculate Conception of Mary with the… Read More

BOOK DESCRIPTION: the best known and most widely read medieval work on veterinary science for horses. In Italian, manuscript on paper, Italy (Pavia?), c. 1530-1560. Dimensions: 360 x 250 mm.,52 folios on paper, complete, written in an Italic script (cancelleresca italica) in brown ink, red rubrics, decorated 5-line initial on f. 1 styled as a tree trunk and 2- to 3-line red pen initials at the beginning of each chapter. CONTEMPORARY VELLUM BINDING, title written on the spine, enclosed in a modern half calf cover within a half calf slipcase, both with marbled sides. TEXT: Lorenzo Rusio's state-of-the-art treatise on veterinary science for horses is the best known and most widely read medieval work on the subject. It appears here in a rare fifteenth-century Italian translation, known only in four other manuscripts. Its large size and long lines suggest a reference copy, not something suitable for practical use in the stables. The text adds forty chapters on the preparation and application of medicines… Read More

MANUSCRIPT COMBINING A LATIN NEW TESTAMENT AND COMMENTARIES BY NICHOLAS OF LYRA. In Latin, decorated manuscript on paper, Northeastern Netherlands or Northwestern Germany, c. 1450-1475. Dimensions 275 x 198 mm., 383 folios, apparently complete, written in a formal cursive gothic bookhand without loops in two columns of 38 lines, red initials, nine- to fifteen-line blue or parted red and blue initials, added running titles, which continue to part two of the volume; ff. 146-end, copied in a very neat controlled hybrida script, red initials 3- to-10 line (occasionally blue), a few with pen decoration,10-line red initial, six 10-line parted red and blue initials. BINDING: seventeenth century(?) plain vellum over pasteboard with yap edges. TEXT: This sizeable volume combines a copy of the New Testament, lacking only the Gospels, with the Commentaries by Nicholas of Lyra on the same books of the New Testament. Although possibly of independent origin, these two sections are contemporary and were united very… Read More

MISCELLANY WITH ELEVEN IMPORTANT TEXTS REFLECTING THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE MODERN DEVOTION. In Latin, Low German, and Dutch, decorated manuscript on paper, Netherlands (Southeastern?) or West Germany, c. 1460-1480. Dimensions 244 x 143, 222 folios on paper, apparently complete, written by at least four scribes in expert cursive gothic bookhands in 28-30 long lines, seven ORIGINAL TABS or place-markers made from white leather strips, blank spaces for 2-line initials, guide notes for rubricator, majuscules stroked with red, 6- to 2-line red initials. BINDING:
modern half-tawed leather and exposed wood, two brass clasp-and-catch fastenings, straps missing, fastening back to front, spine with four raised bands. TEXT:
A carefully thought-out miscellany that reflects the spirituality of the Modern Devotion (religious movement) and includes the Imitation of Christ, five visionary texts describing journeys to Heaven and Hell (one copied twice), and six texts on the Passion of Christ. PROVENANCE: Written in… Read More

BOOK DESCRIPTION: RARE RENAISSANCE MANUSCRIPT OF a practical guide to agriculturE. In Italian, manuscript on paper, Central Italy, c. 1450-1460. Dimensions 295 x 220 mm, 48 folios on paper with two watermarks, complete, written by a single hand in Italian cursive script in two columns of 45-55 lines, book and chapter titles in red. BINDING: unbound but text block and endleaves sewn on three alum tawed thongs, the two conjugate parchment manuscript leaves serving as a wrapper, text block lacks boards or any further evidence of the now-lost binding. TEXT: it was through Palladius's treatise that knowledge of Roman agricultural practices and the agronomy of the Later Roman Empire were transmitted to medieval Europe and beyond. Organized according to the calendar, this influential text was a practical guide, in simple language, to the agricultural tasks to be performed in each season of the year. This is a witness to the first Italian translation of the text, known in only 13 manuscripts. Manuscripts of… Read More

BOOK DESCRIPTION: EXQUISITELY WRITTEN AND DECORATED MANUSCRIPT FOR AN EARLY ARCHERY GUILD. In Dutch, illustrated manuscript on parchment, Belgium, Antwerp, c. 1575 with 17th-century additions. Dimensions 273-275 x 187 mm., complete, frame-ruled in faint rust-brown ink (justification 215-218×135-137 mm.), written below top line by three scribes, the main scribe writing an elegant gothic script with some cursive elements (semi-hybrida) in 22-32 lines, the second scribe annotating the first in a less formal semi-hybrida currens, the third scribe working in a gothic script (semi-hybrida) in 15-25 lines. BINDING: Bound in 1783 in black leather over beveled boards, elaborately tooled in gold, gilt-tooled spine. TEXT: A collection of statutes, ordinances, privileges, and other documents for an early archery guild in Antwerp. One of only a small number of extant militia guild privilege-books, this is the sole known example from the Jongen Handboge
('Young Handbow'). ILLUSTRATION: The very skillful… Read More

MEDIEVAL SERMON MANUSCRIPT IN A FIFTEENTH-CENTURY CHAINED BINDING, CHAIN INTACT, decorated manuscript on parchment, in Latin, Austria (Vienna?) or Southern Germany, c. 1275-1300. 182 x 127 mm. 190 folios, complete, written in a rapid Gothic hand with cursive influence in two columns of thirty-two to thirty-seven lines (justification, 141-143 x 96-100 mm.), parchment ruled in brown ink, quire signatures, guide notes for rubrication, red rubrics, capitals and names of cited authorities stroked in red, rhymed phrases underlined in red, red paraphs, two- to three-line plain red initials, two-line red initial with pen flourishing in red (f. 131v), occasional scribal corrections and marginalia. BINDING: Fifteenth-century blind-tooled and -stamped red calf with eight engraved and bossed cornerpieces, intact fore-edge clasp, and chain hasp with intact chain, with two manuscript fragments serving as front flyleaf and lower pastedown. Chained libraries were a late medieval solution to the problem of providing… Read More

RARE DUTCH TRANSLATION OF A TEXT IMPORTANT TO THE RELIGIOUS REFORMERS KNOWN AS THE DEVOTIO MODERNA. In Middle Dutch, manuscript on paper, Southern part of the Northern Netherlands, probably Limbourg, c. 1475-1500. Dimensions 207 x 140 mm., 188 folios, written in a littera hybrida by one hand, skillful and vary attractive penwork initials. BINDING: CONTEMPORARY, wooden boards covered with brown leather, blind-tooled with double and triple fillets, two brass clasps. TEXT: This neatly written codex includes the second Dutch translation of a compilation of early Christian hagiographic texts, presenting the lives of third- and fourth-century hermits as examples worthy of imitation. Appearing high on the list of recommended reading for the Devotio Moderna, the Vaderboec in this translation that originated not far from the heartland of the Modern Devotion is nevertheless very rare. PROVENANCE: Copied in the Northern Netherlands, probably Limbourg, c. 1475-1500; later owned by brother Conrad Melis of… Read More

FOURTEENTH-CENTURY MANUSCRIPT OF A RARE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY COPIED BY A NAMED SCRIBE. In Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Southwest Flanders or Hainaut (Tournai?), c. 1350. Dimensions 240 x 170 mm., 120 folios, complete, catchwords in red and brown ink, quire signatures, written by a single scribe in a university bookhand, scrolling cadels at top lines sometimes in human and animal forms, numerous red and blue/black penwork initials of five to seven lines. BINDING: Nineteenth-century marbled boards and doublures, parchment covering corners and spine, spine title in red and black with filigreed decoration in red. TEXT: A New Testament commentary, Jacobus Folquerius's Viridarium Gregoriana, mined from many of Gregory the Great's works, drawing occasionally on Alulfus of Tournai's Gregorialis. The text is known in only three other manuscripts; this copy was, until now, apparently unknown, and is certainly the only of its kind on the market. PROVENANCE: Based on the script, this manuscript… Read More