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Theatrum Sanitatis


Manuscript Information

Title of manuscript: Theatrum Sanitatis also known as "The Table of Health"
MS call number (and folio selected): Ms. 4182 Folio 39, 40
Current location: Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome, Italy
Place of creation: North Italy, possibly in the city of Padua
Date of creation: late 14th century

Codicology and Paleography

Language(s) of text: Latin
Script: Italian Round Gothic Script
Abbreviations: None
Textual corrections
            Contemporary: None
            Later: Additions to text
Marginal commentary
            Contemporary: None
            Later: None
Rubrication: None
Instructions for scribe: None
Instructions for rubricator and/or artist: None

Provenance

Marks of ownership: One this particular folio 39 and 40 none were found, however throughout a different part of manuscript a coat of arms was found.
Previous owners:  Three of the four copies of manuscripts were identified to be in Paris, Vienna, and Rome belonging to Giangaleazzo Visconti and his circle, a valued artist and architect. Two early owners of the manuscript were found in Vienna. One of the crests on the coat of arms found was identified to belonging to von Schlosser in 1895, part of the Cerruti family of Verona. More recently, the coat of arms was corrected by Barbieri Alvarotto to connect to the Paduan Family-the Speroni where Speroni was a public figure in the Padua. The manuscript ended up being the property of George of Liechtenstein, Bishop prince of Trent from 1390-1419, whose coat of arms was identified on folio 1 verso  in 1911. 

Mise en page

Columns: 1 column
Lines per column: 3-4 lines per column
 

Decoration (in hierarchical order)

Gilding: None
Small ink initials: None
Pen flourished initials: None
Painted initials: None
Gold initials: None
Foliate initials: None
Zoomorphic initials: None
Anthropomorphic initials: No anthropomorphic initials but on folio 39 a anthropomorphic mandrake plant looks mournfully at a dog.
Historiated initials: None
Miniatures: Full page
Marginal Illustrations: No Illustrations but decoration includes bordered irregular red frame around the illustrations. Illustrations included vibrant colors such as red, green, and blue, etc. 
Full page illustration: Yes, in this illustration on folio 40, a man has tied his dog to the mandrake so that the dog can pull the plant out of the ground, thus saving his owner's hearing. The iconography reflects ancient belief that the mandrake root, which resembled a human body, screamed when uprooted; but a dog may do the uprooting while the man goes off and avoids hearing it's scream. This is why the man is hurrying away and covering one ear to protect himself. If smelled or used as a poultice, mandrake can cure headaches, insomnia, elephantiasis, and other skin infections but should NOT be eaten. 
On folio 39, an illustration of a clump of basil is shown, trained rather improbably into a standard, growing in an elegant pot decorated with colors of red, blue, and green. Basil dissolved superfluities of the brain and strengthens the blood.

Other Information

The Theatrum Sanitatis, also known as Tacuinum Sanitatis, transates to the Secrets of Health.  The word tacuinum is a latinization of the Arabic world taqwim (meaning 'table' or 'almanac'). A health book that provides guidance on everything necessary for a health and happy life showing that good health depended on six essential factors: climate, food and drink, movement and rest, sleep and wakefulness, elimination and retention, and the emotions. Proper regulation of these six non naturals would maintain the health of those prone to illness according to renowned Arab physician Ibn Butlan. 

This manuscript was intended for wealthy aristocrats and leaders who wanted to learn about healthy living through daily practice rather than theory. The wealthy, also known as "ill popolo grasso," the fat people, had power, wealth, and the privilege to access of healthy living and eating well. The different resources, fruits, and vegetables found in the health book were not meant for those living in poverty and famine. Throughout different folios, the paintings show an abundance of food and harvest that can not be taken at face value when the reality of that time period left harvests ruined. During the time of the manuscripts creation, was the period of the late Middle Ages period in Europe where the Great Famine, warfare, and the Black Death took place, a period of serious famines and plagues where the population reduced significantly. This resulted in ruined crops and an acute shortage on food, where harvest were destroyed and lower and middle class peoples lives were affected tremendously, reducing the population by two-thirds. 
 

Further readings

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  1. Theatrum Sanitatis

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