05a: Florence, humanists, and their manuscripts

Poggio Bracciolini (1380-1459)

  • born near Arezzo, studied notarial arts in Florence
  • Salutati,   Chrysoloras
  • apostolic secretary to  anti-pope John XXIII
  • Council of Constance
  • Cluny, Fulda, St. Gall to collect mss
  • handwriting reform; manuscript copying

  
Medieval libraries
1. Cathedrals.
2. Monasteries
3. Private
4. Universities


Scriptoria:
1. Monasteries
2. Cities. Florence: Stationarii: guild of doctors and apothecaries, as were painters

book collectors: Petrarch.   Poggio.  Niccolò Niccoli


    
   Florence’s  new library  
   San Marco     
             reformed Dominican house, patronage of  Medici  
       Niccolò Niccoli     
              for all interested persons, clerical or lay.
               Monks forbidden to sell,  alienate, or move books
               No loaning out except to  trustees
    Board of 16 trustees. Included: Cosimo  and Lorenzo; Leonardo Bruni, Poggio  
   1445       400 volumes









     Cosimo de’ Medici: purchasing agents
  

Handwriting reform

15th-c copy of Livy From Vatican Library

 

Palatine Vergil, 5th of 6th c

Pal. lat. 1631 fol. 15 verso vlib21 INT.10

 

Carolingian: Historia Augusta

Pal. lat. 899 fols. 209 verso-210 recto vlib20 INT.09