MS 189: Compilatio librorum historialium ab Adam usque ad Christum by Johannes de Utino, 1358
Item
Identifier: MS 189
Contents
Johannes de Utino, a Franciscan friar from Mortegliano (near Udine) in the first half of the fourteenth century, composed a diagrammatic chronicle of universal history from Adam to Christ, a compilation of Biblical and post-biblical history. MS 189 Johannes's work chronicle in roll form, over 5 metres in length, and arranged around a central genealogical diagrammatical 'tree' running down the centre of the length of the roll. The first half of the roll covers Biblical history, while the second half presents a chronicle of popes and emperors. Text surrounds the central genealogy in two columns. Johannes's chronicle became popular in the later middle ages (in both roll and codex formats), and most copies are richly illuminated, like MS 189.
The prologue of the chronicle in MS 189 begins with a dedication by Johannes de Utino to Bertrand, patriarch of Aquileia: Hic incipit prologus in compilationem ystoriarum totius biblie tarn veteris quam novi testamenti editum a fratre Johanne de Utino ordinis minorum. Reverendissimo in xpo patri et domino domino Beltrando [Bertrando], dei gratia sancte sedis aquilegiensis patriarche dignissimo, frater Johannes de Utino vel de Morteglano ordinis fratrum minorum Salutem—et hanc cartam propria manu, Anno domini 1358 in civitate utini aquilegiensis diocesani [. . .] avique scripsi.
The text begins at the top of the right-hand column, with: Adam primus homo a deo in agro damasceno de terra
The diagrammatic genealogy ends with the Popes Peter and Linus and the Emperor Titus III. A simpler extension of the list is made to include popes and emperors until 1346.
Writing
A good round Italian hand, the ink faded and rubbed in parts and soiled at the end.
Illumination
The roll is very decorated with much illumination. The genealogy 'tree' runs down the centre, and starts at the top with a branched tree of raised, burnished gold, outlined in red and green. Extending from it down the centre at intervals, square medallions of raised, burnished gold and silver, containing the important names from Adam to Christ. Intermediately, branching off from the central stem, are circles of red, green, and brown.
Illumination
The illustrations include a circular map of the world (near the top of the roll, right column), with the sun, moon, and planets in their orbits (sun and stars gold, moon silver). The Ark, Egypt [?] and Canaan, both the last being buildings with battlements in red, green, and brown; the Tower of Babel, a similar building; the Altar of Sacrifice, the altar being silver, the table with the holy bread silver and gold; the Ark of the Covenant (gold); Bezaleel's seven-branched Candlestick (silver and gold) ; the Tables of Stone ; the 'Mansiones' of the forty-two peoples of Israel; the Twelve Tribes and their Cities; Rome (a building with battlements); Jerusalem, a flat plan of a circular city with twelve gates all leading to the Temple in the centre (gold, silver, and colour) near the end of the roll, in the left column.
Illumination
The two initials, one at the beginning of the prologue (left column) and another for the text (right column), are raised, burnished silver. All the silver is tarnished.
Dates
- 1358
Creator
- Giovanni, da Udine, d 1366 (Franciscan friar from Mortegliano) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
Latin
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 roll
Custodial History
The prologue gives the original provenance of the manuscript with its date. It was written at Udine in the province of Aquileia in 1358. There are no marks of ownership. A seventeenth-century hand writes a title on the outside at the end of the roll: Genealogiae Arbor ab Adam usque ad Christum et omnium imperatorum Romanorum usque ad Titum III. There is also a label on the case with the following information: MS. Johannis de Utino Ordinis Minorum Chronicon Mundi Manuscript Roll, measuring 18 1/2 ft. long
and 18 1/2 inches in width D/D/.
Previous reference
S. R. Table
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland's catalogue: Chronicon Johannis de Utino
Physical Facet
Material: vellum
Binding: in roll form in cardboard case.
Binding: in roll form in cardboard case.
Dimensions
5.64 m X 47 cm
General
Foliation and number of lines to a page: in roll form, on 10 skins.
Creator
- Giovanni, da Udine, d 1366 (Franciscan friar from Mortegliano) (Author, Person)
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
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk