#kislak center

[radicalarchive]

Thursday, July 27, 12:30-1:30 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Radical and Rare: Building a Collection of the Left with Brad Duncan

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms Codex 1070 - Genelogies of the Erles of Lecestre and Chester

What a wonderful manuscript!

This codex features the genealogy of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, tracing his descent from the earls of Leicester and Chester, beginning with individuals of the 11th and 12th centuries, and providing the heraldic devices of the principal members of these families. Although the genealogy may have been compiled in association with Robert Dudley's appointment as lieutenant of the Order of the Garter in 1572 or the birth of his illegitimate son in 1574, Robert Dudley is mentioned in the introduction and is represented by the final coat of arms, although the lack of his name among those of his siblings is noted in a late 16th- or early 17th-century hand. It is written in a hybrid secretary script, probably in the hand of Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms. Notice the illuminated border that goes throughout the manuscript and is formed by the family tree that passes through the heraldic shields and roundels with the names of principal family members, painted in a naturalistic style with leaves resembling elm and oak foliage.

You should look at the facsimile (here) for high-resolution images! Or click here for additional information.

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 902 - [Chansonnier]

It’s time for some French poetry! This manuscript features a collection of 310 poems by Guillaume de Machaut, Oton de Grandson, Brisebare de Douai, Eustache Deschamps, Philippe de Vitry, and others. It was composed in France, some time around 1400 CE.

Do you want to read them? Click here for the facsimile (or look here additional information).

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 4 - In universam Aristotelis Logicam quaestiones

This manuscript consists of questions about Aristotle's logical works, the Organon. Each of the questions (topics) is subdivided into arguments. Look how beautiful are the floral decorations of the first page and - even more! - of the last. It was written in Italy in 1638.

Click here for additional information, or here for the facsimile.

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 1094 - Metaphisica, De anima, & Meteorologia

Do you like Aristotle? This manuscript features a collection of commentaries concerning Aristotle's Metaphysica, De anima, and Meteorologia, as well as the Physiognomonica, which is attributed to Aristotle. It also presents some full-page pen-and-ink drawings, including one of what may be a podium with skull and crossbones resting on top.   It was possibly written in Italy in the 17th century.

What are you waiting for? Click here for further information, or here for the facsimile.

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 319 - [Gli amori di Tibullo e Glicera]

This manuscript is a prose work consisting of a set of dialogues between Tibullus and Glicera. It also includes a second work by the same author, "Opusculum ... in amorem quo ratio ac apetitus loquentes inducuntur,” written in 400 lines of verse and consists of a dialogue between Reason and Appetite. It was possibly written in Italy, between 1475 and 1499 CE.

Do you want to know about their love? Click here - there’s the facsimile! - or here for further information. 

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 1114 -  Franckfurter Blumgarten oder geistliches Gedenckzeichenn, darin underschiedliche lieb- und tugentriechende Bluhmen seind gepflantzet

This hand-sewn booklet contains a rhymed poem entitled Eingang, dedicated by the author, Bertram Reinartz, on the title page to the officials of the city of Frankfurt am Main. In a preface addressed to these same officials, Reinartz indicates that the work is a gift on the occasion of the new year, and is offered in gratitude for beneficence that they have shown him in the previous year; below his name he titles himself as a former Franciscan preacher, Kölnische Provinz (Cologne province), and newly appointed pastor in Burg-Gräfenrode (nuhn mehr aber designirter Pfarrer zu Burggrefenrod in der Wetteraw). In the preface, he praises the wisdom and virtue of the officials while comparing them to flowers, citing Bible verses and an anecdote of Pliny. The poem is composed of 70 numbered stanzas. The speaker describes the flowers he encountered in Frankfurt as symbolic of Christian virtues and ends with a wish for the city officials to be blessed and to enter paradise. Spring is surely powerful! It was written in Burggrefenrod (i.e. Burg-Gräfenrode, Hesse, Germany), circa 1695.

Click here to see this very nice manuscript in its facsimile, or here to read additional information.

[upennmanuscripts]

Ms. Codex 903 - [Lecture notes]

How do you take notes in class? Well,  Petrus S. Langevelt apparently was very good! These two volumes feature his lecture notes at Louvain, Belgium, primarily on Aristotle's works but also on the Sphaera Mundi of Johannes de Sacro Bosco. They were written between  1646 and 1648 CE.

Click here to enjoy the facsimile or look for other information here.