Biblia Sacra Latina, Versio Vulgata

F-onuf

Toronto, ON, The Robertson Davies Library at Massey College, Gurney FF 0001

Remarks by the Editor

Note from Otto Ege: "At this period, the St. Jerome Bible was not transcribed as often as one would expect in the country of its origin and the very land which held the seat of the Roman Church. During the greater part of the 13th century, while the popes were greatly concerned with gaining political power, art was at a low ebb in Italy, and religious manuscripts were comparatively few and far inferior to the work of monastic scribes in Germany, France, and England. But with the great wealth accumulating in Italy during the 14th century through commerce and the Crusades, this country soon surpassed in richness as well as in numbers the manuscript output of all other nationalities.

The rich black lettering of this manuscript is in the transitional rotunda script and is excecuted with skill and beauty. It is supplemented by initial letters in rich ultramarine blue and deep cinnabar (vermilion), which colors are reflected in the ornament of the romanesque capitals. All of these factors combine to indicate that the manuscript was executed in central Italy, possibly at Florence."

General Information

Title Biblia Sacra Latina, Versio Vulgata
Place of Origin Italy (possibly Bologna, with Paris illuminations)
Date of Origin 1275
Script, Hands

Rotunda

Original Condition

Page Height 235 mm
Page Width 166 – 175 mm
Height of Written Area 153 mm
Width of Written Area 107 mm
Number of Columns 2
Width of Columns 25 – 46 mm
Number of Lines 48
Line Height 3 mm
Ruling Yes
More about the Condition

Thin Vellum. 

Current Condition

Dimensions 235 x 170 mm
More about the Current Condition

Page was ripped along the gutter unevenly. Minor foldings in the vellum are visible. The margins are dirty from handling and some residual tape is visible due to Ege's mounting. On the recto top right corner is written "107" in pencil. On Verso at the bottom right on an added tape is the numbering "19" which is the indication of which leaf it is in this box. 

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

On recto: massive inhabited initial with a red creature inside. Using gold, coral red, dark red, and blue. Initial measures at 82 mm long and 11 mm wide. There is red scrollwork down around the blue initial on the second column. Minor markings in red throughout the text. Chapter headings and numerals in blue or red. Marginal gloss in brown ink boxed in red. 

On verso: Singular initial in red at the bottom, scrollwork around it in blue. Minor usage of red and blue to mark heading, chapter number, and highlighting some letters throughout the main text.