Lot 96

Franciscus Martini, Compendium Veritatis Conceptionis Virginis Mariae Dei Genitricis, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Spain (Barcelona), late fourteenth century]

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

58 leaves, 240mm. by 185mm., complete, collation: i-iv^{12, v^{10, double column, 34-36 lines in light brown ink in the small cursive hand of the scribe}} Galserandus (who names himself in the colophon on fol.57v), quotations underlined in red, paragraph marks in red or blue, 2-line initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork, large historiated initial (fol.1r; 11-line) in gold on a blue ground heightened with liquid gold scrolls, all within a burnished gold frame, enclosing the author in a white habit, holding his book (somewhat scuffed and rubbed), with coloured foliage extending into two borders enclosing large bezants, fol.49 once loose and now skilfully reattached to volume, fol.1 becoming loose at base, small stains, else good condition, modern red leather over pasteboards

Provenance

provenance

1. Presentation copy from the author, Franciscus Martini, to the library of the Carmelites in Paris where he had lived and studied c.1364-c.1380: contemporary inscription on fol.57v, "Iste liber est librarie conventus beate marie de monte carmeli civitatis parysiensis quem dedit eidem frater franciscus martini ...". The Carmelite convent in Paris, situated in the Place Maubert, was founded in the thirteenth century. This manuscript was still in their library in the seventeenth century, when it was seen by Pedro de Alva y Astorga (cited in B.F.M. Xiberta, De scriptoribus scholasticis saec. XIV ex ordine Carmelitanum, 1931, p.454). In 1931 Xiberta described the manuscript as untraced and doubted its survival.

2. William Sumner Appleton (1874-1947) of Boston; his bookplate.

3. Bergendal MS.74; bought by Joseph Pope in our rooms, 25 June 1985, lot 61: Bergendal catalogue no.74; Stoneman, 'Guide', p.195.

Catalogue Note

text

Franciscus Martini is a mysterious and enigmatic figure in the history of medieval Spain. Beyond the fact that he was a native of Barcelona almost nothing is known of his background, but he was educated at Paris at the expense of the Aragonese royal family, and was perhaps connected to them by blood or service. He became a lecturer in Paris in 1372, and a master in 1380.

This text is a lengthy treatise on the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin. It is rare work, recorded in only two other manuscripts: Vatican, MS. Ottobon. lat.707 and lat.11557, of which only the second is complete. The present manuscript is the author's own copy.