Vita Christi (Life of Christ)

Accession number: 
MS M.643
Title: 
Vita Christi (Life of Christ)
Created: 
Florence, Italy, ca. 1320.
Binding: 
Formerly in calf with brass bosses (as per 1821 Sotheby's sale catalogue); re-sewn with blue paper interleaving and re-covered in red goatskin for Lord Ashburnham, retaining 14th-century wood boards under covering leather (Ashburnham's number 72 inscribed in ink on the spine); disbound in 1996.
Credit: 
Purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867-1943) in 1919.
Description: 
20 leaves : ill. ; 245 x 176 mm
Provenance: 
Sale of Saibante and Canonici manuscripts by Abbot Luigi Celotti (London, Sotheby's, Feb. 26, 1821, lot 518) to the Rev. D.T. Powell; his sale (London, Puttick and Simpson, July 31, 1848, lot 853) to Lilly; Bertram, 4th Earl of Ashburnham, Ashburham Collection (Appendix, no. 72); Henry Yates Thompson Collection (catalogue, III, p. 45-49, no. 81); his sale (London, Sotheby's, June 3, 1919, lot 12) to Quaritch; purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867-1943) from Quaritch in 1919.
Notes: 

Ms. picture book; illuminated in Florence, Italy, ca. 1320.
Decoration: 39 miniatures; contains a miniature of David holding a scroll, thirty-three scenes from the life of Christ, and five from the life of Blessed Gerardo Mecatti, who is known as Blessed Gerard of Villamagna.
Artist: Pacino, di Bonaguida and workshop.

Century: