The Digital Walters is a branch of The Walters Art Museum Manuscripts Department.
The Digital Walters is a branch of The Walters Art Museum Manuscripts Department.
This manuscript, W. 734, is a thirteenth-century copy of an astronomical treatise, Astronomica, attributed to the first century Roman scholar Gaius Julius Hyginus. There is some question as to whether or not the unpolished Latin prose of the Astronomica was in fact by the learned scholar Hyginus. Regardless, this text was in circulation in western Europe along with other astronomical and astrological works by the ninth century. Illustrated Carolingian versions of the texts often faithfully imitated classical models in both style and detail. No illustrated Carolingian examples of Hyginus still survive, however a manuscript of Hyginus from 988 by Ademar, a monk at Saint-Martial of Limoges, seems to be faithfully copied from a Carolingian model. The most distinctive feature of the iconography of W.734 is the miniature of the two stars of Cancer, the “Aselli,” drinking from a trough. This image type recalls a very small collection of ninth century manuscripts (cf. Madrid Bibl. Nacional, cod. 3307) dating between ca. 820-828, and W.734 is reminiscent of Carolingian style as well. The text of the Astronomica itself addresses various cosmographical topics including the Earth and the spheres, the mythological legends connected with the constellations, the planets, the arrangement of the stars in the constellations, the circles of the celestial sphere and the movements of the planets, the sun and the moon, and their appearance. This copy likely dates to ca. 1200, however pinpointing its place of creation has proven more complicated, with its parchment and script having been linked to Italy, while France or Spain have also been suggested as a place of origin.
Caroline script, red rubrics and accents with black script
Principal cataloger: Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934
Cataloger: Mackin, Elliot
Editor: Herbert, Lynley
Contributor: Emery, Doug
Contributor: Han, Yuna
Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel
Contributor: Wiegand, Kimber
Conservator: Quandt, Abigail
Miner, Dorothy. "Since de Ricci—Western Illuminated Manuscripts Acquired since 1934. A Report in Two Parts: Part II. Journal of the Walters Art Gallery 31/32 (1968/1969): 40-118, pp. 83-87.
These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.
France, Spain, or Italy (?), flyleaves and pastedown Italian
12th century CE
book
Non-original Binding
Modern red velvet
The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.
Created in twelfth century in France, Spain, or Italy, likely based upon a Carolingian model
E. P. Goldschmidt, 1937, cat. 44, no. 12
Walters Art Gallery acquired from Goldschmidt, 1947, cat. 82, no. 1
Museum purchase, 1947
France, Spain, or Italy (?), flyleaves and pastedown Italian
12th century CE
book
The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.
Created in twelfth century in France, Spain, or Italy, likely based upon a Carolingian model
E. P. Goldschmidt, 1937, cat. 44, no. 12
Walters Art Gallery acquired from Goldschmidt, 1947, cat. 82, no. 1
Museum purchase, 1947
This manuscript, W. 734, is a thirteenth-century copy of an astronomical treatise, Astronomica, attributed to the first century Roman scholar Gaius Julius Hyginus. There is some question as to whether or not the unpolished Latin prose of the Astronomica was in fact by the learned scholar Hyginus. Regardless, this text was in circulation in western Europe along with other astronomical and astrological works by the ninth century. Illustrated Carolingian versions of the texts often faithfully imitated classical models in both style and detail. No illustrated Carolingian examples of Hyginus still survive, however a manuscript of Hyginus from 988 by Ademar, a monk at Saint-Martial of Limoges, seems to be faithfully copied from a Carolingian model. The most distinctive feature of the iconography of W.734 is the miniature of the two stars of Cancer, the “Aselli,” drinking from a trough. This image type recalls a very small collection of ninth century manuscripts (cf. Madrid Bibl. Nacional, cod. 3307) dating between ca. 820-828, and W.734 is reminiscent of Carolingian style as well. The text of the Astronomica itself addresses various cosmographical topics including the Earth and the spheres, the mythological legends connected with the constellations, the planets, the arrangement of the stars in the constellations, the circles of the celestial sphere and the movements of the planets, the sun and the moon, and their appearance. This copy likely dates to ca. 1200, however pinpointing its place of creation has proven more complicated, with its parchment and script having been linked to Italy, while France or Spain have also been suggested as a place of origin.
Caroline script, red rubrics and accents with black script
Principal cataloger: Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934
Cataloger: Mackin, Elliot
Editor: Herbert, Lynley
Contributor: Emery, Doug
Contributor: Han, Yuna
Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel
Contributor: Wiegand, Kimber
Conservator: Quandt, Abigail
Miner, Dorothy. "Since de Ricci—Western Illuminated Manuscripts Acquired since 1934. A Report in Two Parts: Part II. Journal of the Walters Art Gallery 31/32 (1968/1969): 40-118, pp. 83-87.
These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.
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