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

MS. D'Orville 147

Summary Catalogue no.: 17025

Physical Description

Five sections, written in 1461 and 1465 by three scribes. Sections 2, 4, and 5 were written by Felice Feliciano who also wrote most of the headings and the contents-list on fols. iii v and iv v.
Form: codex
Extent: iv + 195 (ii + 193+ ii) leaves (ten leaves now missing)
Dimensions (binding): 8.5 × 6.5 in.
Dimensions (leaf): 208 × 155 mm.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Written in 1460 and 1465 for Giovanni Marconova (-1467), doctor and humanist (see colophons and arms on fols. 1, 83).

Given by him to the monastery of San Giovanni di Verdara in Padua in 1467: 'Hunc librum donauit eximius artium et medicine doctor Magister loannes Marchanoua de Venetijs Congregationi Canonicorum Regularium Sancti Augustini. Ita ut tamen sit ad usum dictorum Canonicorum commorantium in monasterio Sancti Ioannis in viridario Padue. Quare omnes pro eo pie orent. M cccc lxvij'. On fol. 136 is a note of a disturbance in 'hoc monasterium' in 1603, and on foll. 136v-138v (fol. 137 is wanting) some Latin poems written 'a domino Joanne Francisco Niwmercato', a canon regular (16th cent.).

Jacques Phillippe D'Orville of Amsterdam (1690–1751)

Jean D'Orville, b. 1734, his son, by descent

Jean D'Orville, son of Jean, by descent

Sold to the Rev. John Cleaver Banks (1765/1766–1845): purchased from him by the Bodleian

Acquired by the Bodleian in 1804.

MS. D'Orville 147, fol. 1-51

Contents

Language(s): Latin

1. (fol. 1)
Vibius Sequester, De fluminibus, fontibus, lacubus, nemoribus, paludibus, montibus, gentibus per litteras libellus
Rubric: Vibij Sequestris de Fluminibus, Funtibus, Lacubus ... [etc.] liber
2. (fol. 14)
Notitia dignitatum (brief abstract?)
Rubric: Principium Nominum Regionum cum suis provinces xvij et cum ciuitatibus
Incipit: Lugdonum desideratum

Including (fol. 21v) 'De origine situque et qualitate urbis Rome principium.' This appears to be a brief abstract of part of the Notitia Dignitatum.

3. (fol. 28)
Antonius Augustus, De diuisione orbis
Rubric: Antonij Augusti de divisione orbis principium
Incipit: Orbis a rotunditate
(fol. 52v)
Colophon: Finis Laus Deo. R. L. S. Opus absolutum Cremonę ad petitionem Joannis Marchanouę artium & medicine doctoris p. anno d.m.cccclxº.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Layout

1 col., 24 lines; written space 130 × 70-80 mm.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script.

Decoration

Penwork initials. (Pächt and Alexander ii. 664)

History

Origin: 1460 ; Italy, Cremona

MS. D'Orville 147, fols. 53-79

Contents

Language(s): Latin

4. (fol. 53)
Dionysius Periegetes, Periegesis siue Orbis descriptio
Rubric: Prisciani interpretatio ex Dionisio de orbis terræsitu
Incipit: Naturae genitor quę mundum continet omnem
Colophon: Opus absolutum ad petitionem Io. Marc, ar. & med. doct. p. 1465. B[ononiæ?].

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Layout

1 col., 21 lines; written space 130 × 80 mm.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script by Felice Feliciano.

Decoration

Penwork initials. (Pächt and Alexander ii. 664)

History

Origin: 1465 ; Italy, Bologna (?)

MS. D'Orville 147, fols. 83-106

Contents

Language(s): Latin

5. (fol. 83)
Calpurnius Siculus, Eclogues
Rubric: Calphurni poetę Bucolica ...
Colophon: Opus absolutum ad petitionem Joannis Marchanouę artium & medicine doctoris p. Βοnοnię [altered to 'Brixię'] Anno d.mcccclx.'.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Layout

1 col., 22 lines; written space 145 × c. 90 mm.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script.

Decoration

Penwork initials. (Pächt and Alexander ii. 664)

History

Origin: 1465 ; Italy, Brescia

MS. D'Orville 147, fols. 111-136

Contents

Language(s): Latin

6. (fol. 111)
Virgilius Maro Grammaticus, Epitomae I-IX
Rubric: Incipit Epytoma Virgilii Maronis
Incipit: Noto [sic for Toto] proficit in polo nostro

Opera omnia, ed. Löfstedt (2003), sig. X (p. xii).

Colophon: Opus absolutum ad petitionem Ioannis Marchanouæ artium et med. doct. p. anno gratiæ mo ccco lxv. bononiæ

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Layout

1 col., 21 lines; written space c. 127 × 90 mm.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script by Felice Feliciano.

Decoration

Penwork initials. (Pächt and Alexander ii. 664)

History

Origin: 1465 ; Italy, Bologna

MS. D'Orville 147, fols. 141-202

Contents

Language(s): Latin

7. (fol. 141)
Poggio Bracciolini, De miseria humanae conditionis
Rubric: Ad illustrem princ. Sigismundum Pandulfum Malatestam de miseria condicionis humanæ Poggii lib. prim. [etc.].
Colophon: Opus absolutum ad petitionem Ioannis Marchanoue ar. et med. doct. p. ann. gratiæ 1465. Bononiæ

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper

Layout

1 col., 21 lines, written space c. 128 × 90 mm.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script by Felice Feliciano.

Decoration

Penwork initials. (Pächt and Alexander ii. 664)

History

Origin: 1465 ; Italy, Bologna

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description adapted (2025) from the following sources:
A. Watson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries (1984), no. 441
Otto Pächt and J. J. G. Alexander, Illuminated Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford, II (1970), no. 664
Summary Catalogue (1897)

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (2 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

    Printed descriptions:

    A. Watson, Catalogue of Dated and Datable Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries (1984), no. 441

Last Substantive Revision

2025-01: Description revised to incorporate all information from printed catalogues.