Boccaccio's "Casibus Virorum Illustrium"

This manuscript represents one of six known copies of Laurent de Premierfait's original French translation of Giovanni Boccaccio's De Casibus Vivorum Illustrium. Premierfait's name can be found in the colophon (fol. 291v). This ca. 1400 translation has a more direct correlation with the Latin than seen in the 1406 version. A printed edition issued by Colard Mansion of Bruges in 1476 survives in over sixty copies. The Walters' manuscript W.315 represents an undecorated version of this text that left space for initials throughout which were never completed. It is additionally written on paper instead of parchment. Scribal features have been identified as South Netherlandish.

Inscription

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Biblioteca Santangelo [1]. Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Barrois, Lille, early-mid 19th century [2]. Purchased by Bertram, 4th Earl of Ashburnham, Sussex, England, 1849; Earl of Ashburnham Sale, Sotheby's, London, June 10 1901, no. 64; purchased by J. J. Leighton, London, 1901; Purchased Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] Engraved bookplate on front pastedown
[2] His collection number 491 on front pastedown
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