MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - MA236.jpg


Category	Manuscript
Origin: artist/workshop	Italian
Date	15C/3
Reference No	MS Vat. lat. 658, f 25r (detail)
Size	11.6x7.7
Provenance	Rome
Present Location	Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica
Bibliography	SBOp 3:431; Leclercq 1953, 45
	Vattasso & Cavalieri 1902, 1:514-5; Vatican 1950, 10; Vatican 1980, 41
Illustration From	photo - Library
Other illustrations

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 MA234-5 & MA 237-40). Book Three begins with the large blue initial F(inis superioris libri huic principiam ponit) -' The preceding book concludes with a beginning for this one' - announces the beginning of Book Three. It is decorated with green and rosa leaves. A nimbed Bernard sits at a desk against a gold ground with his hood over his head. Here Bernard is looking down whereas in the other images he is looking straight ahead or at an open book. He is concentrating on sharpening his pen which he holds in his left hand while he holds a knife in his right hand with which he is cutting the pen towards himself.

Description:

One of seven historiated initials featuring Bernard in this manuscript of 'De consideratione' commissioned by Pope Nicolas V in 1452 (see also MA234-5 & MA 237-40). Book Three begins with the large blue initial F(inis superioris libri huic principiam ponit) -' The preceding book concludes with a beginning for this one' - announces the beginning of Book Three. It is decorated with green and rosa leaves. A nimbed Bernard sits at a desk against a gold ground with his hood over his head. Here Bernard is looking down whereas in the other images he is looking straight ahead or at an open book. He is concentrating on sharpening his pen which he holds in his left hand while he holds a knife in his right hand with which he is cutting the pen towards himself.