![ROBERT GROSSETESTE (d.1253), De Decem Preceptis, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [England, c.1260]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2014/CKS/2014_CKS_01584_0003_001(robert_grosseteste_de_decem_preceptis_in_latin_illuminated_manuscript012030).jpg?w=1)
![ROBERT GROSSETESTE (d.1253), De Decem Preceptis, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [England, c.1260]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2014/CKS/2014_CKS_01584_0003_000(robert_grosseteste_de_decem_preceptis_in_latin_illuminated_manuscript113724).jpg?w=1)
Details
ROBERT GROSSETESTE (d.1253), De Decem Preceptis, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [England, c.1260]
c.260 x 185 mm. iii + 26 + iii, TEXTUALLY COMPLETE, but possibly once part of a longer volume, ONE SEVEN-LINE HISTORIATED INITIAL, (the outer half of the final leaf, and the lower margin of the penultimate leaf excised, not affecting the text). 19th-century brown blind-stamped leather, gilt spine title (somewhat scuffed).
PROVENANCE:
(1) SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS: his MS. 2316 (stencilled crest), bought from Thomas Thorpe; Phillipps sale, part 10, 6 June 1898, lot 621. (2) GEORGE DUNN: booklabel and initialled acquisition notes dated July 1898, his sale, 11 February 1913, lot 503. (3) Henry Young and Sons Catalogue of Books, part CCCXL, Liverpool, in which this was item 1. (4) ALLAN HEYWOOD BRIGHT: 1912 bookplate.
CONTENT:
‘De .x. preceptis secundum magistri .R. Grossetest.’, begins ‘Sicut dicit apostolus: Plenitudo legis est dileccio […]’ and ends ‘[…] in istis vii mandatis’, edited by R.C. Dales and E.B. King, Auctores britannici medii aevi, 10 (1987), and on which see J.J. McEvoy in Recherches de théologie ancienne et médiévale, 58 (1991), 206-12.
Robert Grosseteste was one of the greatest thinkers of the 13th century (it is generally believed that grosse teste, ‘big head’, was a nickname). He lectured in Theology at Oxford and became bishop of Lincoln in 1235, a post he held until his death in 1253. More than fifty of his works survive, plus collections of his letters, sermons, and sayings. As well works of theology, philosophy, and commentaries on Aristotle and biblical texts, he is especially remembered today for his scientific works, including treatises on astronomy, comets, light, colour, sound, and geometry.
The present text, on the Ten Commandments, is EXCEPTIONALLY RARE OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS: the Schoenberg database records no other copy in auction or dealer catalogues.
ILLUMINATION:
The work begins with a very fine initial depicting Moses, with horns and halo, holding the Tablets of the Law. Although on a small scale, the illumination is extremely fine, and may be compared to the York Psalter in the British Library (Add. MS. 5147). The scale makes comparisons difficult, but the draperies belong to the transitional phase of stylistic development between the troughed-fold style of the first half of the century and the broad, angular, style of the 1250s-60s, apparently imported from France.
c.260 x 185 mm. iii + 26 + iii, TEXTUALLY COMPLETE, but possibly once part of a longer volume, ONE SEVEN-LINE HISTORIATED INITIAL, (the outer half of the final leaf, and the lower margin of the penultimate leaf excised, not affecting the text). 19th-century brown blind-stamped leather, gilt spine title (somewhat scuffed).
PROVENANCE:
(1) SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS: his MS. 2316 (stencilled crest), bought from Thomas Thorpe; Phillipps sale, part 10, 6 June 1898, lot 621. (2) GEORGE DUNN: booklabel and initialled acquisition notes dated July 1898, his sale, 11 February 1913, lot 503. (3) Henry Young and Sons Catalogue of Books, part CCCXL, Liverpool, in which this was item 1. (4) ALLAN HEYWOOD BRIGHT: 1912 bookplate.
CONTENT:
‘De .x. preceptis secundum magistri .R. Grossetest.’, begins ‘Sicut dicit apostolus: Plenitudo legis est dileccio […]’ and ends ‘[…] in istis vii mandatis’, edited by R.C. Dales and E.B. King, Auctores britannici medii aevi, 10 (1987), and on which see J.J. McEvoy in Recherches de théologie ancienne et médiévale, 58 (1991), 206-12.
Robert Grosseteste was one of the greatest thinkers of the 13th century (it is generally believed that grosse teste, ‘big head’, was a nickname). He lectured in Theology at Oxford and became bishop of Lincoln in 1235, a post he held until his death in 1253. More than fifty of his works survive, plus collections of his letters, sermons, and sayings. As well works of theology, philosophy, and commentaries on Aristotle and biblical texts, he is especially remembered today for his scientific works, including treatises on astronomy, comets, light, colour, sound, and geometry.
The present text, on the Ten Commandments, is EXCEPTIONALLY RARE OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS: the Schoenberg database records no other copy in auction or dealer catalogues.
ILLUMINATION:
The work begins with a very fine initial depicting Moses, with horns and halo, holding the Tablets of the Law. Although on a small scale, the illumination is extremely fine, and may be compared to the York Psalter in the British Library (Add. MS. 5147). The scale makes comparisons difficult, but the draperies belong to the transitional phase of stylistic development between the troughed-fold style of the first half of the century and the broad, angular, style of the 1250s-60s, apparently imported from France.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni