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Works by Petrarch, written in the 15th century in Italy

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MS. Montagu d. 32
Held at the Weston Library

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Works by Petrarch:

  1. (fol. 7) 'Francisci Petrarchae... Vita... a Leonardo Arretino composita': beg. 'Francesco Petrarcha huomo di grande ingegno': followed by a copy of a note about Laura written in Petrarch's hand in a MS. of Virgil at Pavia (fol. 12: beg. 'Laura propriis uirtutibus'), and a fragment of a Latin letter from Petrarch to Jacobus de Columna, bp. of Lombez, also about Laura (fol. 12v: beg. 'Quid ergo ais').
  2. (fol. 14) '... Carminum liber...', the Sonetti and Canzoni; those which occur after fol. 137 Were written after Laura's death: at fol. 184v is 'Rerum uulgarium Fr. Petrarchæ fragmenta finiunt. Sumpta ex quodam exemplari descripto manu Leonardi Iustiniani ueneti..., quod ex eo libro descripserat: quem poëta ipse propria manu conscripsit': then 'Hanc Oden [quæ sequitur, inc. "Diridere ho gran uoglia"], quam frottolam uernacula lingua appellant in quodam peruetusto exemplari repperi post caeteras odas positam.' Four poems are deleted at fols. 70, 88.
  3. (fol. 190) '... Triumphorum liber...': the Trionfo della Morte has some additional lines at the beginning (beg. 'Quanti gia nella eta'): and the poem beginning 'Nel cor' occurs as the first part of the Trionfo della Fama.

At fol. 235v are a short Latin poem beginning 'Valle locus clausa', and a list of Petrarch's works. A later index of first words to the Sonetti and Canzoni occupies fols. 236-8.

Dates

  • Creation: written in the 15th century in Italy

Extent

240 Leaves

Language of Materials

  • Italian
  • Latin

Shelfmark

MS. Montagu d. 32

Other Finding Aids

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. V, no. 25401.

Custodial History

The volume was written for 'Franciscus Saxetti', of the Sassetti of Florence, and bears his arms on fol. 7.

'Est nunc Francisci & Filippi Joannis baptistse... Francisci de Saxettis cuius possessio primum fuit' (16th cent. ?): 'E ora di proprietà di Me Marehese Giovanni Gerini' (18th cent.). A Persian miniature of a man and woman is at fol. 5, inserted. The modern binding bears in the centre of each side a double-headed eagle displayed surrounded with the motto Perseverando. Capt. Montagu acquired the book on or before March 17, 1827, the date of a note by him on fol. 3.

Old (until about 1890) MS. Montagu no. 5.

Physical Facet

On parchment, with two illuminated borders and capitals, binding, brown morocco with stamped gold ornament, doublé (early 19th century English work), see below

Dimensions

10 3/4 × 7 in.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom