A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Bodl. 646

Summary Catalogue no.: 2864

Contents

Basinio de' Basini of Parma, Astronomica
Incipit: Aetherios orbis subiectaque templa Deorum

A Latin astronomical poem, in two books, with paintings of the constellations and signs of the zodiac

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment (fol. 1, purple)
Extent: i + 35 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 7.75 × 15.125 in.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script, written (?) by Ang(elo) Aquil(ano) (?). See the inscription in silver letters on purple-dyed leaf on fol. 1v: 'Accipe, et haec manuum tibi que monumenta mearum | Sint, precor, et longum servi testentur amorem. Ang. Aquil.'

Decoration

Pächt and Alexander ii. 605, Pl. LVIII

Good miniatures (coloured drawings representing various constellations)

Fine historiated border

Fine initials (faceted capitals, cf. MS. Bodl. 80) by a different hand

(fol. 1r) full border: classical border with architectural and floral designs. Two putti support a panel inscribed with the author's name and title of the book. A shield on the title page bears the arms of John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester: 1st and 4th argent a cross saltire engrailed gules, 2nd and 3rd or a lion rampant of the second, the crest a griffin's head

Binding

Oxford, early 17th century. Stamped brown leather with gold ornament, preserving the older flyleaves

History

Origin: c. 1460 ; Italy, Padua

Provenance and Acquisition

Arms of John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, who was in Padua c. 1459–1461

possessor huius libri T. Barratt’, 16th century, inner pastedown

Presented by Sir Richard Worsley in 1607

Record Sources

Description adapted (April 2023) by Stewart J. Brookes from the Summary Catalogue (1922). Decoration, localization and date follow Pächt and Alexander (1973)

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (full digital facsimile)
Digital Bodleian (17 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Last Substantive Revision

2023-04-14: Description revised to incorporate all the information in the Summary Catalogue (1922)