Lot 16

Lucius Scipio and Scipio Africanus meeting with the legates of King Antiochus of Syria, miniature on a cutting from an illuminated Roman history, on vellum [northern France, c.1470]

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

a cutting, 130mm. by 95mm., enclosing Lucius Scipio and Scipio Africanus with a follower, gesturing to two representatives of the king of Syria, who remove their hats deferentially, all within a gothic building with elaborately carved windows and a medieval town, trimmed to edge of miniature, a number of lines in French in lettre bâtarde on reverse, some small flakes from paint, slight ridges in vellum in upper part of miniature and scuffs to edges, else excellent condition, laid down on card mount

Catalogue Note

A fine secular miniature showing a crucial moment in the career of two Roman generals and statesmen. The victory over Syria at the Battle of Magnesia in 190BC. secured the career of Lucius Scipio (d. c.183 BC.), raising him up to the heights of his famous brother (and joint commander) Scipio Africanus (d. 183 BC.).

The miniature is from a manuscript of the Romuléon or Faits des Romans ascribed to Benvenuto da Imola (d.1390), here in the French translation of Jean Miélot, for which see D. McKitterick, 'The Romuléon', Proceedings of the 1992 Harlaxton Symposium, 1994, pp.149-69. The volume from which it came is probably Niort, Bibliothèque Municipale, ms. Réserve G2F, formerly ms.25. The manuscript's frontispiece is in the Musée de Cluny in Paris; other pieces are in the Musée de Limoges. The present cutting is from an album of 14 miniatures dispersed at Christie's, 21 June 1989, lots 6-11; it was afterwards Maggs Bulletin 15 (1989), no.11.