Details

Subjects:

Augustinians.
Bulls, Papal.
Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Specimens.
Illumination of books and manuscripts.
Monasticism and religious orders.
Monasticism and religious orders -- Early works to 1800.
Privileges and immunities, Ecclesiastical.

Form/Genre:

Specimens.
Codices (bound manuscripts)
Illuminations.
Papal documents.
Manuscripts, Renaissance.

Language:

Latin.

Summary:

Collection of papal letters and instruments dealing with the order of the Eremite Friars of St. Augustine (the Augustinians). Written in two parts (f. 1r-69v, 71r-125v) "ad usum fratris Joannis Angeli de Crema," commissioned by the Augustinian theologian and abbot Antonio Meli. The collection begins with a bull of Pope Sixtus IV. Other popes whose bulls are quoted or referred to include Alexander IV, Boniface VIII, Clement VI, John XXII, Urban VI, Martin V, Eugene IV, Nicholas V, Pius II, Paul II, Innocent IV, Alexander VI, and Julius II. The documents quoted or cited are not necessarily arranged in the chronological order of the pontificates of the popes who issued them.

Notes:

Ms. codex.
Title supplied by cataloger (Zacour-Hirsch); spine label title: Bullae Pontificiae pro f[ratribus] Sancti Augustini.
Text on f. 1-31 of this manuscript is the same as that of f. 1-28 in UPenn Ms. Codex 736.
Contains an attestatur by Georgius Franciotus: "Frater Antonius de Meliis Cremensis, prior conventus Sancti Augustini Lucae .. nobis exhibuit et ostendit quasdam litteras apostolicas ..."
Contains a copy of a notarial statement by "Antonius domini Andreae de Recaneto" (f. 125r).
Folios iii verso and 126r-127v contain many notes in Italian in the hand of the former owner, Federico Patetta.
Collation: Parchment, 136; [i]⁴ (first leaf pastedown), 1-7⁸, 8¹², 9², 10-17⁸ (last leaf pastedown); [iii], [1-133]; modern foliation in ink, upper right recto. Catchwords in lower right corner, last verso of each quire. Link to collation model at end of record.
Script: Written in a humanistic book script by what appears to be a single hand.
Decoration: Illuminated border of blue grapes and gold leaves on a pink background, with illustrations of scrolls reading Laus Deo and Fides in the right margin, a green bird in the top margin, and a medallion with a portrait of a bishop or pope in the lower margin (f. 1r); foliate borders along inner margin at the beginning of each text (up to f. 59v); from f. 63v on, each text begins with a 2-line gold initial on a red, blue or green background, with occasional foliate borders; 4-line initial N in gold on blue and gold background (f. 71r); illuminated border of gold and red ropes hung with fruit, books, a pitcher and skull-and-crossbones (f. 71r); from the workshop of Giovanni Pietro da Cemmo (active 1474-1507; attributed by Nicholas Herman).
Binding: 16th-century Italian brown calf, blindstamped with interlace pattern, over cardboard. Spine repaired with tanned leather; this might be contemporary with the binding. Cover wearing around the edges. Evidence of worm damage, especially to spine and lower cover. Binding slightly loose. Cover pulling away at upper hinge.
Origin: Written in Italy, probably Crema, circa 1506 (f. 124v).

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by Federico Patetta (signature, f. 127v).
Sold by La Medicea (Florence), 1957.

Cited in:

Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800 (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1965), p. 158-159 (Ms. Lea 51).
For Melius, see: Gutierrex, D. The Augustinians from the Protestant Reformation to the Peace of Westphalia, 1518-1648 (Villanova, 1979), vol. 2, p. 161.

Publications about:

Herman, Nicholas. Making the Renaissance Manuscript: Discoveries from Philadelphia Libraries (exh. cat.). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Libraries, 2020. 41, 94-97 (cat. 17).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 85.

Contributor:

Melius, Antonius, patron.
Giovanni Pietro, da Cemmo, active 15th century-16th century, illuminator.
Joannes Angelus, de Crema, former owner.
Patetta, Federico, 1867-1945, former owner.
Antonius, de Recaneto.
Franciotus, Georgius.

Contains:

Sixtus IV, Pope, 1414-1484.
Boniface VIII, Pope, -1303.
Clement VI, Pope, approximately 1291-1352.
Urban VI, Pope, 1318-1389.
Martin V, Pope, 1368-1431.
Eugene IV, Pope, 1383-1447.
Nicholas V, Pope, 1397-1455.
Pius II, Pope, 1405-1464.
Paul II, Pope, 1417-1471.
Innocent IV, Pope, approximately 1200-1254.
Alexander VI, Pope, 1431-1503.
Julius II, Pope, 1443-1513.
Alexander IV, Pope, -1261.

OCLC:

155962311

Web link:

Collation model

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.