De optimo imperatore

Accession number: 
MS M.449
Title: 
De optimo imperatore
Created: 
Naples, Italy, ca. 1490.
Binding: 
Neapolitan, ca. 1490; red morocco over original wooden boards, gold-tooled, rebacked; remains of two pairs of clasps on fore-edge, catching on lower cover; edges gilt.
Credit: 
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
Description: 
69 leaves (1 column, 20 lines), bound : vellum, ill. ; 220 x 150 mm
Provenance: 
Erased arms of first owner: or three fesses gules; William Bragge (1823-1884) sale (London, Sotheby's, June 7, 1876, lot no. 299) to J. Molini; William Morris sale (London, Sotheby's, Dec. 5, 1898, fourth day's sale, lot no. 694); Richard Bennett; Quaritch; Robert Hoe (1839-1909), (catalogue 1909, p. 151-152); his sale (New York, Anderson Galleries, Apr. 24, 1911, lot no. 2159) to J. Martini; purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Martini in 1911; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943).
Notes: 

Ms. written and illuminated in Naples, Italy, ca. 1490.
The Latin translation of Nikolaos Sekoundinos.
Scribe: attributed to Pietro Ippolito da Luni.
Decoration: illuminated frontispiece with initial S in gold with white-vine decoration; title in embellished gold and blue capitals; full-page illuminated border; 2 other illuminated initials.
Artist: attributed to Pietro Ippolito da Luni.

Script: 
humanistic cursive script
Language: 
Latin
Century: 
Classification: