M. Porcius Cato, Giovanni da Spoleto — 15th century, middle; Italian, Rome (?)

Title

M. Porcius Cato, Giovanni da Spoleto — 15th century, middle; Italian, Rome (?)

Shelfmark

MS. D'Orville 148

Place of origin

Italian, Rome (?)

Date

15th century, middle

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

i (endleaf, paper of the date of the binding) + 78 + i (endleaf, paper of the date of the binding)leaves

Hands

Humanistic script.

Decoration

Partial vine-scroll border with arms, fol. 6r.

4-line initials in gold with vine-scroll decoration, fols. 6r, 61r.

Alternating 2-line initials in red or blue.

Binding

Parchment binding, 18th century(?); two ties, lost.

Acquisition

Acquired by the Bodleian in 1804.

Provenance

Localized to Rome by Pächt and Alexander: it is unclear if the localization is based on art historical evidence, or is an inference (possibly erroneous, see below) from the early provenance.

Arms, fol. 6r, quarterly, first and fourth azure a crescent or, second and third checky argent (?) and gules

The same arms, and decoration in the same style, occur (as noted by Pächt and Alexander) in MS. Canon. Class. Lat. 26, which is inscribed 'Tyferni Vitelliorum' and later belonged to the Jesuit College, Città di Castello. The arms are those of the Vitelli family, identified by Pächt and Alexander (probably following Rietstap's Armorial Général) as 'Vitelli of Rome', but associated rather with Città di Castello (see the articles in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, and P. Litta, Famiglie celebri di Italia. Vitelli di Città di Castello).

Fol. 78r, 'Dom Guido de Pratis de Mantova ' (15th cent.).

Jacques Phillippe D'Orville of Amsterdam (1690–1751)

Jean D'Orville, b. 1734, his son, by descent

Jean D'Orville, son of Jean, by descent

Sold to the Rev. John Cleaver Banks (1765/6–1845): purchased from him by the Bodleian.

Title

Marci Catonis Portij ... Censorini de Re Rustica ad Catonem filium liber ...' preceded by a table of the chapters

Shelfmark

MS. D'Orville 148

Summary

On fol. 6 are the following arms: quarterly, first and fourth azure a crescent or, second and third checky argent (?) and gules.

On fol. 79 is the name 'Dominus Guido de Pratis de Manto[va] ' (15th cent.?).

Date

written in the 15th cent. in Italy

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment

Physical extent

79 Leaves