by Plutarch, Leonard Bruni, Donato Acciaiuoli
NEWLY DISCOVERED MANUSCRIPT OF A FAMOUS LIFE OF CHARLEMAGNE BY AN ITALIAN HUMANIST. In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, Italy (Florence), c. 1461-1463/4. Dimensions 184 x 136 mm., 56 leaves, complete, written in 19-17 long lines through f. 30, and in 23-21 long lines from f. 31v to end in a cursive humanistic script, one three-line blue initial, one 5-line gold initial, two finely executed 4-line illuminated initials (additions?), f. 3, and f. 31v, added coat of arms (f. 1). BINDING: CONTEMPORARY, extensively repaired and restored, blind-tooled brown calf over wooden boards. TEXT: A newly discovered, hitherto unrecorded, manuscript of the Life of Charlemagne by Donato Accaiuoli (who followed the ninth-century life of Charlemagne by Einhard), with Plutarch's Life of Quintus Sertorius from his Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans in the Latin translation by Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444). PROVENANCE: Written, almost certainly in Florence, c. 1461-1463/4; the partially erased inscription on f. 56rv states that it was copied by Giovanni Marco, a pupil of Pierro di Strozzi, for Thomas de Debrenthe, bishop of Zagreb. This is a very early manuscript by Marco, who went on to have an illustrious career as a scribe in Naples. Our manuscript certainly dates before Thomas de Debrenthe was appointed Bishop of Nitra in 1463/4, and 1461-1462 seems likely, making it very close in date to the copy (now in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) presented by the author, Donato Acciaiuoli (1429-1478) to King Louis XI of France (reigned 1461-1483) on January 2, 1462; unidentified coat of arms, lower margin, f. 1: party per pale, in the first half or a demi-eagle displayed argent; in the second sable 3 bars or. CONDITION: slight tear lower margin, a few leaves are unevenly trimmed presumably by a modern owner, overall in excellent condition; two metal clasps and catches on binding likely modern replacements, now lacking straps, once fastened back to front, repairs to split in back board, overall very good condition. Full description and images available. (TM 1063)
(Inventory #: TM 1063)
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