De Oratore [002]

Title: De Oratore [002]
LC Subject: Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern) Oratory, Ancient Oratory
Item Locator: Eugene, OR, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon, MS 012.
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Author: Cicero, Marcus Tullius
Description: Manuscript codex. Collation: In quires of 8 (except 1 of 6, 8 of 7, and last of 1). F. 8 first leaf missing. Folio numbers added in brown ink; partially cut off, indicating pages were trimmed. Two blank flyleaves of handmade paper at front and back added in 2011 rebind. Decoration: First page has elaborate illuminated initial and border on three sides with gilding over raised gesso. Large initial C in pink with architectural motif, filled with vines in wash of green, red, and blue, on a background of blue with whitework scrolls, all surrounded by gilding with tiny dotted punch-work. Along left margin, a bar in blue and gold sprouts vines and leaves on three sides. Vines in red or blue ink with painted leaves in pink, green, blue, gold, and red. Scattered raised gold dots outlined with black ink curlicues. Along top, a green acanthus leaf. Along base, a grotesque dragon in red, blue, pink, gold, and green, and a now illegible coat of arms, including red and blue. The document describes a dark brown shield ... across the center a broad fess azure; above rays gules; below, metallic brown. These details may have been more visible in the past than they are now. However, brown is not a normal heraldic color, so this may be discoloration or a bole (clay) wash under gold which has rubbed off. Above the shield are initials M. A. with red penwork flourishes. Throughout, numerous red and blue initial letters, embellished with delicate penwork in alternating purple or red. Binding: 2011 binding by Etherington Conservation Services. Dark brown calf over beveled boards. Blind-tooled in 15th century style: front and back covers have border with small rosettes; within this a frame of larger rosettes; within this a cross motif made up of small and large rosettes. Five-paneled spine with raised cords laced into boards. White linen head and tail bands. Pastedowns and 2 flyleaves of modern handmade paper at front and back. Interrupted borders of frontispiece indicate the manuscript was trimmed. The manuscript was previously bound in a 20th century velvet binding. Script: Rounded Humanistic book hand. A few lines rubricated. Long 's' throughout, short 's' at start of sentence. Illuminated letters: Leaf 33r: Initial letter 'M' in yellow and red, framed in blue, with whitework vines and leaves, on a background of red and white penwork. Green ink sprays with leaves in yellow, green, red, or blue. Leaf 84r: Initial 'I' in yellow with red highlights, on a rectangular background of blue, pink, and dark green with white highlights, and white vines and leaves in an 'X' shape. A spray of green stems with pink and blue flowers emerges from upper and lower left corners of the rectangle. Leaf 113r: initial 'V' made of two curved fish in yellow and orange wash with brown ink; outer background quartered in red and blue with white linework; inner background green with whitework vines and leaves, sprouting two sprays of leaves in green, blue, or red. Formatted Content Note: De Oratore, Libri ff. 1-115. Liber I, f. 1, begins: Cogitanti mihi sepenumero et memoria vetera repententi per beati fuisse. Quinte frater. illi videri solent... Liber II, f. 33: agna nobis pueris. Q. frater si memoria tenes... Liber III, f. 84: Institutendi mihi Quinte te frater. Orator ff. 115-150v, begins: Vtruiii Dificilius aut Maius e[ss]et (negare) tibi s[a]epius idem roganti un effice[re] id quod rogares diu multum q: Brute dubitavi. Ends: Marcii Tullii Ciceronis Oratoris Liber Explet LXXXDI-[?]XII.
Provenance: Donation/Purchase; Julia Burgess, 1935-1942.
Work Type: codices
Location: Italy
Date: 1445/1455
Identifier: MS_012_002
Item Locator: MS 012
Rights: No Copyright - United States
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Use Restrictions: Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections & University Archives.
Language: Latin
Type: Image
Format: image/tiff
Material: Parchment
Set: University of Oregon Special Collections Manuscripts and Rare Books
Institution: University of Oregon
Layout: 150 leaves ; 180 x 260 mm bound to 190 x 268 mm. Margins lightly ruled in ink, single column, 33 lines to page. Catchwords on last page of each quire. No signatures or page-titles