Lot 39

Augustine of Hippo, Expositio in Psalmos L-LXXIV, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [Italy (probably Piacenza), third quarter of the twelfth century]

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

110 leaves, 388mm. by 265mm., wanting first leaf and a number of gatherings (original quires 1, 8-14 and 20-24 missing, thus without commentaries for Psalms 58-63 and 69-71), else complete, collation: i-xiii^{8, xiv^{6, numeric quire-signatures, double column, 33-36 lines in black to brown ink in a single fine early gothic bookhand, rubrics in red,}} numerous variegated red initials (4- to 12-line) some with intricate and delicate interlacing or dotted ornamental panels left in clean vellum within their bodies, that on fol.69v terminating in an animal head with foliage sprouting from its mouth, some small contemporary corrections to text and early 'Nota' symbols in margin, last gathering somewhat discoloured at top with minor losses to text, else in excellent condition with wide and clean margins, modern brown leather over early wooden boards

Provenance

provenance

1. The Cistercian monastery of Chiaravalle della Columba in Piacenza: contemporary ex libris at end of text on fol.110v: "Liber Sancte Marie de columba". The community was founded by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in 1135, and was suppressed in 1810.

2. Bishop Paolo Giovio (1483-1552), the historian and humanist, who acquired various manuscripts from this monastery; sale by descendents in Christie's, 1 June 1977, lot 164, to Kraus (his cat.159, 1981, no.2).

3. Bergendal MS.17; bought by Joseph Pope from Sam Fogg in February 1996: Bergendal catalogue no.17.

Catalogue Note

text

The importance of Augustine of Hippo (354-430) and the influence his writings had on the development of Western Christianity cannot be understated. He wrote during the steady collapse of the Western Roman Empire, himself dying during the siege of the city of Hippo by the barbarian Vandals. His works reforged late Antique Christianity into something distinctively Early Medieval, focussing on the grace of Christ as mankind's only possible salvation, and re-defining the concepts of just war and the Church as a spiritual city of God.

This large and stately manuscript contains his expositions on Psalms 51-7, 64-8 and 72-4, edited by Migne, Pat. Lat. 36:611-956.