Li livres dou tresor
Manuscript Information
Title of manuscript: Li Livres dou TresorMS call number (and folio selected): Ms Fr.F.v.III.4
Current location: Saint Petersburg, National Library of Russia
Place of creation: Therouanne/ Saint-Omer, France
Date of creation: 1300-1310
Codicology and Paleography
Language(s) of text: Old French / PicardScript: gothic textualis
Abbreviations: none
Textual Corrections
Contemporary: none
Later: none
Marginal commentary
Contemporary: On folio 149, there are several different notes and marks of ownership within the page.
Later: bestiary animals or astronomical signs were added around the third quarter of the 14th century. As owners transitioned, different writing styles that were thinner and more cursive appeared.
Rubrication: encyclopedia; written and illuminated in France, Arras or Therouanne, in the early 14th century-much books created for knowledge at this time
Instructions for scribe: one hand scribe, did all the ruling and the calligraphy
Instructions for rubricator and/or artist: encyclopedia; written and illuminated in France, Arras or TheÌrouanne, in the early 14th century-remain explanatory and factual like-although were more fantasy images. The lines and the layout of the text area were marked out by pricking the folios, and fall into three groups: those used to rule the vertical lines and make the side margins, those used to rule horizontal lines and finally the ancillary pricking for reference marks. Two cuts where the claps attached to the covers can still be seen. The spin and edges are decorated with plant motif engraving, presumably done by the finest ateliers in Paris that worked for the Royal House. The parchment itself was stretched until very thin and transparent (ff.119, 124, 126, 129, 142, 149). Holes were and cuts on the original material were sewn up or covered by more pieces or parchment to give the illusion of a clean slate (ff. 58, 58.69,74, 75,82,86,87,105,106,127, 142,144). It was then smoothed out to look smoother, it was soaked in water and many times. This produced the marks at the bottom margins in and of the folios.
Provenance
Marks of ownership: A red shield stamp on the right side of the column is present, it seems to have been smudged downwardsPrevious owners: Pierre Seguier; Abbey of Saint-German-des-Pres (1735); Piotr Dubrovsky (1754-1816; end of the 18th century); the public library of Saint Petersburg (1805)
Mise en page
Columns: 2 columnsLines per column: 37 lines
Decoration (in hierarchical order)
Gilding: There are gold detailed initials ane undertones in the artworkSmall ink initials: thin strokes circular and decorate the border
Pen-flourished initials: There are pen strokes within this page, the initials have them as well
Painted initials: There is painted initials within the text, it is a blue tint, and another with a red tint.
Gold initials: Within the initials, there are golden decorations. Either melted gold ink or gold sheets attached from behind.
Foliate initials: The initials are curved and stroked into a decorative shape
Zoomorphic initials: In this specific page there is not an animal like initial, however, on other pages, there are beastly animals integrated into the text
Anthropomorphic initials: none
Historiated initials: There are 427 initials. It can range anywhere from 3 lines to 10 lines long. On each, it alternates between blue and pink backgrounds, with gold gilded backgrounds and outlined white edges. The gilding was 2/3 the frame
Miniatures: none on this page
Marginal Illustrations: 65 marginal drawings (3 figured, the rest of bestiary animals or astronomical signs) that were added around the third quarter of the 14th century.
Full page illustration: none
Other Information
Throughout the Also abound beasts, grotesque and strange, dwarf characters that make all kinds of mischief; They make balancing acrobats and juggling; musicians playing trumpet, flute, viola, tambourine, organ, and bagpipes; Birds, hares, fawns, lions, and dogs hunting wild boar appear, it has even drawn the creation of Eve.Further readings
Add at least 3Imagining the Past in France: History in Manuscripts Painting 1250-1500/ Elizabeth Morrison and Anne D. Hedeman; with contribtioms by Elisabeth Antoine.
Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty
Museum 2010.
Tributes to Lucy Freeman Sander: Studies in Illumination Manuscript/ edited by Kathryn A. Smith and Carol H. Krinsky
London: Harvey Miller
Miller Publisher 2007.
Online Sources:
- His Livre dou Tresor is a compilation of material previously available to the learned in Latin texts, presented here in a vernacular language as a kind of De Regimine principum not for the nobility, but for those responsible for city government in the political circumstances prevalent in Italy, and more specifically Florence, at the time.
- The first book of Latini’s Trésor among many topics contains notes on astronomy and the universe
- In book two, Latini translates the Ethics of Aristotle into French. Virgil will quote Ethics in the Comedy (Inf.XI.79-80), and Dante’s Convivio is firmly rooted in Aristotelian logic.
- The third and final book, which contains a robust discussion of politics, would also have been a formative text for Dante, who, like Latini, was involved in the Florentine government. Both men supported the Guelph faction of Florentine politics. Latini even warns Dante in the Inferno (XV.61-78) about the history of the discord between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs, which resulted in Latini’s exile and would ultimately be the cause of Dante’s.
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- Lit 150 Winter Quarter Kristy Golubiewski-Davis
