Henry of Huntingdon's Historia Anglorum

Produced in the early thirteenth century, this manuscript is an important textual witness to the Historia Anglorum, the History of the English People, by Henry, archdeacon of Huntingdon. The first version of Henry of Huntingdons text had a terminal date of 1129, though there were four more updates containing events through 1135, 1138, 1148, and 1154. Walters W.793 represents the fourth version, covering the events from Britains first leaders up to 1148, in which the number of books was increased from eight to ten and three letters by the author were added. The text contains several colored foliate initials, though it is especially notable for its line drawing of King Stephen (d. 1154), grandson of William the Conqueror, and his earls before the Battle of Lincoln on February 2, 1141 (fol. 105r). It is closely related to British Library, Arundel Ms. 48, which is believed to have been the model from which Walters W.793 was copied. Both copies may have been based on a prototype extant during the lifetime of Henry of Blois (d. 1171). Of the approximately three dozen surviving manuscript copies of the Historia Anglorum, only eight predate W.793. It and Arundel 48 are the only known illustrated exemplars.

Provenance

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

Thomas Dakcomb, 16th century [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; 2nd Earl Grosvenor and first Marquis of Westminster (probably Robert Grosvenor), by 1812 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Sotheby Sale, July 11, 1966, lot 227; Major John Roland Abbey, England [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Sotheby's Sale, June 20, 1978, lot 2978; Walters Art Museum, 1978, by purchase.