MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - MA234.jpg


Category	Manuscript
Origin: artist/workshop	Italian
Date	15C/3
Reference No	MS Vat. lat. 658, f 1r (detail)
Size	8.5x9.1
Provenance	Rome
Present Location	Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica
Bibliography	SBOp 3:393; Leclercq 1953, 45; Maddalo 1994, 129
	Vatasso & Cavalieri 1902, 1:514-5; Vatican 1950, 10; Vatican 1980, 41
Illustration From	photo - Library
Other illustrations	SBOp 3:frontispiece

Country	Italy

Description:
One of seven historiated initials featuring Bernard in this manuscript of 'De consideratione' commissioned by Pope Nicolas V in 1452 (see also MA235-40). The red letters above announce the beginning of the first book 'On Consideration' by Bernard to Pope Eugenius III whereas the large blue initial S(ubit animum dictare aliquid) - 'It has occurred to me to write something which might edify, delight or console you, Blessed Father Eugene' in fact opens the Preface and not the first chapter. Within the initial a nimbed Bernard in a white cowl kneels and hands a red book (his work) to Eugenius seated and dressed in a red cope with gold edging and wearing a tiara. He takes the book with his left hand and with his right hand blesses Bernard. The scene is witnessed by a number of tonsured clerics against a gold ground. The lower margin of the folio has the keys of Peter with a tiara above, the name of Nicolas V and the date 1452.

Description:

One of seven historiated initials featuring Bernard in this manuscript of 'De consideratione' commissioned by Pope Nicolas V in 1452 (see also MA235-40). The red letters above announce the beginning of the first book 'On Consideration' by Bernard to Pope Eugenius III whereas the large blue initial S(ubit animum dictare aliquid) - 'It has occurred to me to write something which might edify, delight or console you, Blessed Father Eugene' in fact opens the Preface and not the first chapter. Within the initial a nimbed Bernard in a white cowl kneels and hands a red book (his work) to Eugenius seated and dressed in a red cope with gold edging and wearing a tiara. He takes the book with his left hand and with his right hand blesses Bernard. The scene is witnessed by a number of tonsured clerics against a gold ground. The lower margin of the folio has the keys of Peter with a tiara above, the name of Nicolas V and the date 1452.