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MS 203: Commento al 'Trionfo della Fama' di Petrarca by Jacopo Bracciolini, 15th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 203

Contents

The manuscript contains the text of a commentary to Petrarch's Triumph of Fame written by Jacopo Bracciolini and published for the first time in 1475. The Triumphs (Trionfi in Italian) are a series of allegorical poems written in vernacular Italian by the poet Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374). They take their title from the Roman tradition of the triumph, the spectacular procession in which the victorious generals paraded their captives and spoils. They are divided into six poems, each of them dedicated respectively to Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time and Eternity. In the Triumph of Fame the personification of Fame appears surrounded by famous generals, orators and thinkers of the past. Jacopo Bracciolini (1442 - 1478), son of the more famous humanist Poggio, was a scholar, a commentator and a translator.

The text is incomplete at the beginning and starts on f. 1r with the words quindici di sanza alcuna fatica come lui medesimo porto scripto nel triompho; it ends on f. 95v with the words congrandissima gloria et benivolentia inaudita de suo popoli. Deo gracias.

The commentary contained in the manuscript only covers a variant of the first chapter of Petrarch's text. The text of Petrarch, according to the version Jacopo Bracciolini was following, appears in red ink before the relavant section of the commentary and the content of the commentary, also in red ink, is indicated in the margins.

Writing

Written in a very clear, good Italian hand, with plain blue capitals, faded rubrics, and marginal headings. It is an early example of a vernacular manuscript in the script Humanistica formata).

Illumination

The manuscript does not contain illuminations.

Dates

  • Creation: 15th century

Creator

Language of Materials

Italian.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.

Extent

1 bound MS volume

Custodial History

The manuscript is Italian, but there are no marks of early ownership. A title is written in a modern hand in pencil on the inner cover: MS. Poggio Comment, sopra i Triomphi [sic] etc. di Petrarcha. There is a shelf-number 768 on the back.

Previous reference

Laing 194.

Previous title

Title given in Catherine Borland's catalogue: Poggio Sopra i Trionfi di Petrarca.

Physical Facet

Material: Vellum.

Binding: Modern. Lettered Poggio sopra i Trionfi di Petrarca M.S..

Collation: wanting at the beginning, a10- i10, k5 = 95

Dimensions

23.50cm x 16.83cm

General

Secundo folio: et divile.

Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 95, 29 lines to a page.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379