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This Volume is the property of
Member of the Philobiblon Society,
r.
^.?I!\i.rL Hon. Sec.
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MISCELLANIES
OF THE
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VOL. XL
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LONDON: PRINTED BY WHITTINGHAM AND WILKINS.
1867-8.
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CONTENTS.
g 1ST of Members of the Phiiobiblon
i. Remarks on the Illuminated Officii! Manufcript*
of the Venetian Republic, pp. 95.
Edward Chttay.
a. Expences of Dinner* provided for Cardinal Wol- fey and the Lords of the Prhry Council, from 1 3 Juljrj 1518,10 i] February, 1519. pp. 46.
Ctmwoiwcattd by Baron Htatk.
j. Centoniana ; ou, Encyclopedic du Centon. Deux- icme Par tie. pp. 317.
OUatit Drttpitrrt.
The Philobiblon Society.
1868.
H. R. H. the Due d'Aumale, Orleans Houfe, Twickenham. — Patron.
A&on, Sir John, Bart., Aldenham Park, Bridg- north.
Bohn, Henry G., North End Houfe, Twick- enham.
Cheney, Edward, 4, Audley Square; Badger Hall, Shifihal, Salop.
Crofsley, James, 4, Booth Street, Piccadilly, Manchefter.
Curzon, Hon. Robert, 24, Arlington Street ; Parham Park, Steyning, SuiTex.
Dartrey, Earl of, 30, Curzon Street ; Dartrey Houfe, co. Monaghan, Ireland.
6 The Philobiblon Society.
Delamere, Lord, 14, Bruton Street ; Vale
Royal, Northwich, Cheshire. Delepierre, O&ave, Secretary of Legation, and
Conful for Belgium, 35, Howley Place,
Maida Hill, Hon. Sec. Dufferin and Claneboye, Lord, Dufferin Lodge,
Highgate ; Clandeboye, Belfaft. Gaisford, Thomas, Offington, Worthing. Gibbs, Henry Hucks, St. Dunftan's Villa,
Regent's Park, Outer Circle, N. W. ;
Aldenham, Herts. Heath, J. B., Conful-General of His Majefty
the King of Italy, 66, Ruflell Square. Holford, Robert Stayner, M.P., Dorchefter
Houfe, Park Lane; Weftonbirt, Tetbury,
Gloucefterihire. Hope, Alexander James Beresfbrd, Arklow
Houfe, Connaught Place ; Bedgbury Park,
Cranbrook, Kent. Houghton, Lord, Traveller's Club, Pall Mall ;
Fryfton Hall, Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, Hon.
Sec. Huth, Henry, 30, Princes Gate, W., Wyke-
hurft, Bolney, Suflex. Right Hon. A. H. Layard, M.P., 130, Pic- cadilly.
The Philobiblon Society. 7
Longman, Thomas, 39, Patcrnofter Row.
Lothian, Marquis of, 36, Belgrave Square ; New Battle Abbey, Dalkeith. N. B.
Maxwell, Sir William Stirling, Bart., 10, Upper Grofvenor Street ; Keir, Dunblane, N. B.
Murray, John, 50, Albemarle Street ; Wimble- don, Surrey.
Oxford, Bifhop of, Cuddefdon Palace, Ox- ford ; Lavington, Petworth.
Perry, Sir Thomas Erlkine, 36, Eaton Place, Belgrave Square.
Powis, Earl of, 45, Berkeley Square ; Powis Caftle, Welfhpool ; Walcot, Bifhopfcaftle, Salop.
Reeve, Henry, 62, Rutland Gate, Hyde Park South.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, M.P., National Club, Whitehall; Houndfhill, Stratford-on-Avon.
Simeon, Sir John, Bart., Swainfton, Newport, Ifle of Wight.
Sneyd, Rev. Walter, Denton, Wheatley, Ox- fbrdfhire.
Stanley, Very Rev. A. J., Dean of Weft- minfter, Deanery, Weftminfter.
Taunton, Lord, 27, Belgrave Square.
8 The Philobiblon Society.
Turner, Robert S., i, Park Square, Regent's
Park. Van de Weyer, His Excellency Mons. Sylvain,
Belgian Legation, 3, Grofvenor Square;
New Lodge, Windfor.
REMARKS ON THE ILLUMINATED
OFFICIAL MANUSCRIPTS OF THE VENETIAN
REPUBLIC.
Br Edward Cheney.
r
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS OF THE VENETIAN REPUBLIC.
t|HE art of " illuminating," though the word, accord- ing to Dante,1 was adopted from the French, had al- ways been much pra&ifed in Italy, where it was carried to the higheft perfection in the fifteenth and fix- teenth centuries. It was perhaps in greater requeft at Venice, both at that period and fubfequently, than in any other part of the Peninfula.
The number of " Matricole" or ftatutes, called in the Venetian dia- led " Mariegole," of the different
1 non fe' tu Oderifi, L'onor d'Agobbio, e 1'onor de quell' arte Ch* illuoiinare e chiamata in Parifi ?
Purgaterit) c. xi.
4 Remarks on Illuminated
guilds, corporations, and confrater- nities, all enriched with emblems and arabefques; the " Promiffioni" of the Doges, the " Capitolari " of their counfellors, and of the " Pro- " curatori" of S. Mark, and the " Commiflioni Ducali," all required and called forth the (kill and tafte of the illuminator.
Many excellent artifts of this clafs are known to have exifted in Venice and in its provinces during the above named periods, and fome of them no doubt were employed in adorning the diplomas of the ftate officials, though, as they very rarely appended their names to their works, it would now be difficult to aflign to any one of them a particular page.
" Andrea Amadio Pittore" is one of thofe whofe name has been pre- ferved. " Giacometto Veneziano," a pupil and imitator of Mammelinck, is cited by Morelli as working at the
Venetian Manuferipts. 5
end of the fifteenth century at Venice/ Binedetto Bbrdone, Giovanni Vitale, a prieft, a native of Brefcia, Ventura di Venezia, a canon of S. Salvador, Giovanbatifta Clario of Udino, Fra Vettorino, a monk of S. Salvador, and Georgio Colonna, about whom we (hall have more to fay, were all cited as diftinguifhed members of the painters' guild.
Thefe were followed by three artifts, natives of Verona, of the greateft fkill in the art of illu- minating. Liberate,* Francefco,5 and Gerolamo *" dai Libri," fo called from the number and beauty of his works. The celebrated Giulio Clo- vio4 was for fome years in the fer-
1 Born at Padua at the clofe of the fifteenth century, and died at the fame place about
1530- 4 Born at Verona, 145-, died 1536.
s Born at Verona, 1450.
4 Born in Croatia, 1498, died in the Far-
nefe Palace, at Rome, in 1578.
6 Remarks on Illuminated
vice of Cardinal Marino Grimani, to whom the decoration of many volumes now exifting is attributed, with more or lefs plaufibility.
Thefe artifts, the heads of their profeffion, had acquired the greateft dexterity in it, but there was fuch frequent occafion for the fervice of the " illuminator" at Venice, that limners of very inferior acquirement were kept in conftant employment to meet the recurring demand, and to this laft clafs by far the greateft number of the fpecimens now ex- ifting muft be attributed.
It is a miftake to fuppofe that Tintoretto, Paolo Veronefe or Titian, (as the compilers of bookfellers9 and auctioneers' catalogues have pre- tended,) were ever employed in fuch works. No proof of it exifts, and it would require the ftrongeft to eftablifh fo improbable a circum- ftance.
Venetian Manufcripts. 7
It is true that artifts of the greateft eminence have fometimes decorated or illuftrated a volume, but in fuch cafes it was a labour of love and of devotion, and not performed for hire. There is a Miflal in the library of Mantua which Mantegna has illuftrated with elaborate pen drawings on the margin ; and Geor- gio Valari records, in his life of Mi- chael Angelo, that the great painter filled the ample margin of his copy of the Divine Comedy with defigns illuftrative of the text, in which, though the fize of each figure was fo minute, he had exceeded even his vaft powers in the variety and gran- deur of his conceptions. This pre- cious volume was fubfequently loft, but the painter probably repeated fome of his defigns in the frefcoes of the Sixtine chapel.
In fad the illuminators at Venice, though included in the painters'
8 Remarks on Illuminated
guild, were mechanics rather than artifts, and it is not as artijls that they muft be j udged. They poflefled great neatnefs of hand, however, facility of execution and a confider- able amount of tafte and fancy, but thofe of their works will always be found the mod pleating in which the fubjed reprefented is fubordinate to the decoration that furrounds it.
Though this art had everywhere elfe decayed, it was (till pra&ifed at Venice, and towards the clofe of the laft century there were ten (hops (botteghe) where it was pradtifed, prefided over by a " Mafter," ap- prentices and workmen. So com- plete, however, was the degeneracy of the craft that we find the work- men themfelves complaining of it, particularly of the " caligraphy," which was a branch of their depart- ment.
As the cuftom of ifluing ftatutes
Venetian Manufcripts. 9
and commiflions from the Ducal chancery in the fame form, worded nearly in the fame terms, illuminated in the fame manner, differing only in ftyle, continued from an early date to the fall of the Republic, a moft curious collection might be made, illuftrating the ftate of the art itfelf during that period. I am not aware that any collection has been made with this objed: ; certainly it has not been attempted in Venice. The volumes preferred in the public libraries in that city have been col- lected by chance, bequeathed by patriotic citizens, or were removed from the archives of fupprefled con- vents and confraternities.
Mariegole.
According to the arrangement which I have judged the moft con- venient, I (hall begin my obfervations
io Remarks on Illuminated
with the Mariegole, a word corrupted from Madre regola, fignifying the matricula or ftatute by which con- fraternities and focieties were af- fembled and governed.
Though religious confraternities are fuppofed to have exifted at a much earlier period, their firft hif- torical mention at Venice dates from the middle of the thirteenth century. They were of various forts; fome were confined to particular guilds and callings, whilft others included perfons of every rank and profeflion.
Some of the greater confraternities poflefled large funds, which were (till farther increafed by donations and annual fubfcriptions ; fome of the lefler focieties, on the other hand, being without thefe refources, and falling into difficulties, were fup- prefled from time to time by the authorities.
The firft objed of all thefe fo-
Venetian Manufcripts. n
cieties was religious and charitable. Good works were to be performed, and the practices of piety cherifhed. In fome, felf-infli&ed penance was performed in public by the adminif- tration of the lafli, and fome of thefe companies in^ which this difcipline was practifed obtained the name of the " Scuole de' Battuti." In all the members were entitled to receive affiftance from the fociety in times of need, ficknefs, or any other ad- verfity.
The " Confraternita Grandi" (though all had the fame objedt) were diftinguifhed by the quantity, as well as by the quality, of their members, by their fuperior wealth, and by the magnificence of the buildings in which they aflembled ; buildings which (till exift, and (till excite the admiration of pofterity, though the focieties to which they owed their exiftence have been dif- poffeffed and fupprefled.
12 Remarks on Illuminated
The " Confraternita Piccole," lefe wealthy and lefs magnificently lodged, were not the lefs conftituted focieties, with their own rules and charters, and having their own chapel, or altar in the church of their patron faint, in the facrifty of which their " mariegola" was ufually pre- fer ved. Many of the confraternities had a temporal as well as a fpiritual objedt, and thofe which were com- pofed exclufively of members of the fame trade regulated their worldly concerns, and eftabliihed the rules by which the Brothers of the Guild fhould be bound. Their bye-laws were fubjedt to the approval of the Government, they were ftringent and exclufive, and were ftridtly en- forced. No competition was per- mitted.
The earlieft dated mariegola that I have feen (the earlieft, I believe, that exifts), illuftrated with miniatures,
Venetian Manufcripts. 13
is the ftatute-book of the Scuola Grande di S. Teodoro, now in the Correr Mufeum. It contains, be- fides the effigy of the patron faint furrounded by a crowd of devotees, a large miniature on a gold ground, reprefenting the Saviour feated be- tween the Virgin and S. John the BaptLft; the date is 1258.1
The matricola or ftatute-book of the Scuola or Confraternity (for the word Scuola applies both to the mem- bers of the fociety and the place they aflemble in) di Santa Maria Glo- riofa dei Frafi, is dated 1261. It is
1 The church of S. Mark was at firft dedi- cated to S. Teodoro, and the confraternity under the fame invocation was in the im- mediate neighbourhood of it. After the deftru&ion of both buildings by fire, when re- built, the Bafilica was dedicated to S. Mark, and die Scuola was removed to the neighbour- hood of S. Salvador, where a handfome build- ing was ere&ed to accommodate the Brother- hood.
14 Remarks on Illuminated
a folio written in black letter in double columns and on vellum, amounting to thirty-one pages. The date of the laft entry is 141 8. The firft page is ornamented in the large bold ftyle of the period. The initial letters on this page, which are C, I, and Q, contain reprefentations of the Virgin, S. Mark, and S. Francis. The fubfequent pages have only a flight ornamental frieze along the margin without illuminated initials. The binding is the original thick wooden boards.
The third in date is the Marie- gola of the "Scuola di S. Maria " di Valverde detta della Mifericor- " dia." This was altogether a reli- gious confraternity, and it is one of thofe in which felf-infli&ed flagella- tion is added to other forts of morti- fication and penance.
They had their Scuola near the Fondamenta nuova in the Seftiero
Venetian Manufcripts. 15
di Cannaregio. The name of " Val- " verde" is derived from a fertile valley on the Hopes of Mount Etna, where the firft convent of this dedi- cation was built in the year 1 040, and which was fpeedily followed by others in different countries. The fpot fe- leded in Venice, now crowded with buildings, is defcribed by Flaminio Corner as abounding in grafs at that period, and thus fuggefting an ana- logy between it and the rich glade in Sicily. The church was built in the thirteenth century. The Scuola Grande was inftituted in the year 1308, which date the Mariegola bears.
The firft page illuftrates the prin- cipal objed: for which the fociety (called alfo "de' Battuti") was infti- tuted. A miniature at the bottom of the page, forming a confpicuous part of the rich border that furrounds the text, reprefents our Saviour bound
1 6 Remarks on Illuminated
and {tripped to endure the rods of his perfecutors, while the brethren of the order, in their penitential robes, kneel around him, and derive com- fort and fupport from his example.
The brethren met at ftated periods for the purpofe of witnefling and in- flicting this fpecies of difcipline, and the rich border of arabelques, which contains many heads of faints and pardoned finners, has alfo a com- partment in which a half-naked por- ter appears bearing a bundle of thofe " rods which are prepared for the " backs of fools." The initial letter contains the figure of the Virgin Mary (heltering her penitents under her ample mantle.
The date of the illumination, but which is not cotemporary with the diploma, in a confpicuous place at the head of the page, is 1392. It is in the beft ftyle of the period, careful and well-coloured, the figures are
Venetian Manufcripts. 17
well-proportioned, and the arabefques in the border by which the! medal- lions are united, are carefully defign- ed and executed. The initials are illuminated in the tafte of the period with neatnefs and precifion '; the en- tries are continued regularly for up- wards of two centuries, the laft date is 1 524. The binding is the origi- nal dark calf, ornamented with brafs clafps and knobs.
The Correr Mufeum1 contains the Mariegola of the Confraternity of S. Stefano. It is a thin folio, bound in the original boards. The ftatutes are neatly written. In the initial letter there is a reprefentation of S. Stephen, ftatedin a note in the handwriting of the late proprietor to
1 Teodoro Correr was of a noble Venetian family. He devoted his time and his fortune to the collection of this Mufeum, which at his death he bequeathed to the municipality of his native city.
3
/
1 8 Remarks on Illuminated
be by Carpaccio. He only judged from internal evidence, and has no authority to quote but a fuppofed re- femblance of ftyle between this and other works faid to be, equally with- out foundation, probably, by the hand of that painter.
The portrait is fuperior in execu- tion to the furrounding border, which is coarfe and carelefs, and which can fcarcely be by the fame hand or of the fame date. Two miniatures filling the whole page, are impor- tant works of the kind and -of the
period (the year 1493) 5 ^e one re~ prefents the Crucifixion, the other the Lapidation of the Patron and Proto-Martyr.
The entries are continued in the character of fucceeding generations, till the manufcript ceafes. All the later decrees relating to the confra- ternity are printed, and thefe are con- tinued till the extinction of the con-
Venetian Manufcripts. 19
fraternity at the beginning of the prefent century. The binding has originally been handfome, but, yield- ing a tempting fpoil to the deftroyer, the boards have been ftripped of their filver ornaments.
The fame collection contains the Statute-book of the Scuola di S. Marco, and that of the Company of the Furriers — "de' Pelizeri d'ouvra " vera." The firft dates from the clofe of the fourteenth century, and is carefully written and highly deco- rated. The laft, with lefs of orna- ment and lefs carefully tranfcribed, is more curious. It is the firft Marie- gola of a trade that bears a date ; 1324 is given in the text, though the illumination is dated fixty-fix years later. A rough drawing at the bot- tom of the page reprefents a fore- man of the craft and an appren- tice in the act of curing the (kins of the ermine. The foreman wears a
20 Remarks on Illuminated
bonnet, the apprentice a clofe-fitting cap.
The Matricola of the Scuola di S. Marco is ill u ft rated with feveral fub- jeds more elaborately finifhed, but unfortunately not well preferved. The binding is the original dark- ftained calf.
The Mariegola of the craft of the Mercers, called, "Arte de' Marzeri " della Veneranda Scuola della Ma- " donna detta di Santa Maria de' " Merceri," is in the Archives ; the date of the text is 1 47 1 .
The initial letters and the enrich- ments of the pages, excepting the firft, are of the period of the text. The firft initial letter contains a figure of St. Daniel, the patron of the craft, which, with the border that belongs to it, are works of a fubfequent pe- riod. The figure of the faint has been attributed, but quite gratui- toufly, I believe, to Mantegna, or to
Venetian Manufcripts. 21
fome other fcholar of Squarcione. It 1$, however, well defigned and coloured, and the border is both more careful and more tafteful than the other works I have at- tempted to defer i be. This volume contains 193 pages of vellum written in black letter; the earlier pages are enriched with borders and initial letters, elaborately drawn, in red and blue ink; the latter ones have no attempt at decoration. The laft entry bears the date of 1787. The fuppreflion of the Scuola took place foon afterwards. The bind- ing is of crimfon velvet, from which the Giver ornaments have been (tripped.
The Mariegola of the Couriers (for that profeflion alfo had its "fchopl") has been preferved, and is now in the Correr Mufeum. Its date is 1558, and it looks like a volume that has feen fervice.
22 Remarks on Illuminated
A miniature in the firft page re- prefents Saint Catherine, the Patro nefs of the confraternity, with two of her votaries kneeling at her feet, both drefled in black, booted and fpurred for riding a journey and having the poftman's horn round their necks. A fheet oppofite is filled with draw* ings of that inftrument, of various fizes, a poftman's horn feeming to have been adopted as the arms or emblem of the guild. A fhield bearing the Morofini arms appears at the back of the page. The fta- tutes are written in a neat running hand, thofe of a later date are lefs carefully tranfcribed. The laft entry is lingular. It refers to an exploit of the meflenger who brought the news of the election of Pope Pius VI. to Venice. It runs thus, " Lo fteffo Viaggio (from Rome on Venice) fu efeguito da Pafquale " Giuppone Latore della faufta no-
u u
Venetian Manufcripts. 23
"tizia dell9 elezione del Sommo 11 Pontefice Angelo Maria Brafchi " col nome di Pio Scfto e il viaggio " da Roma a Venezia fer efeguita " in 42 ore."
I have feen the Mariegola of the Company of the Gondoliers. It dates from the beginning of the fixteenth century, and continues its various entries till the clofe of the laft, when the confraternity was fuppreffed. The patron faint of the boatman's craft, S. Nicolas, the bifhop, is re- presented at the commencement of the ftatutes, a grim figure, and a gondola of antiquated form heads the text. The gondoliers of the upper part of the city, called, in the cant of the craft, the " Nicolotti," had their chapel and their burial place at the church of S. Nicholas. The ftone that covers their vault has a boat rudely carved upon it, it yet remains though the vault is no longer in ufe.
24 Remarks on Illuminated
The ftatute book of the Scuola of San Geminiano has alfo been pre- ferved. It dates, too, from the be- ginning of the fixteenth century, and has two highly coloured miniatures at the commencement. All the decrees that concern the fociety have been copied into it, or the original document itfelf inferted. There is the decree that proclaimed the downfal of the ariftocratical government, and the inauguration of the democratical republic; a regu- lation of the Emperor of Germany in 1798, and the decree for the fup- preflion of the confraternity and the demolition of the church, with the fecularization of its revenues under the French dominion.
It would feem that the amount of care beftowed upon the Marie- gola was by no means in proportion to the wealth and importance of the community to which it belonged.
Venetian Manu/cripts, 25
The moil fplendid volume that I have feen, or I believe that ever belonged to a confraternity, is the Mariegola of the " Califati," or caulkers, a guild of no mean im- portance in a city built in the waves and claiming to rule over them ; but is one, nevertheleis, which does not lead us to exped the luxury that proceeds from a fuperfluity of wealth and taftc.
The confraternity ftill exifts, the only one acknowledged and fanc- tioned by the government ; and the precious volume containing its fta- tutes is preferved with zealous care in the unpretending refidence of the " Galtaldo," or head of the guild — a mafter workman in the Arfenal.
It was by the obliging permifHon of Sig. Vincenzo Morte, the prefent Gaftaldo, and his colleague, Sig. Pietro Viane, that I examined this volume in the houfe of the former.
26 Remarks on Illuminated
The guild ftill retains an altar in the church of Santo Stefano and an- other in San Martino, though the Mariegola is not kept in the lacrifty of either.
The volume itfelf is a thick quarto bound in maflive filver, richly chafed, emboffed, and partly gilt, having a medallion with the winged lion upon it in very high relief on one fide, and on the other the arms of the confraternity — a vefTel in full fail, bearing the ftandard of the republic. A border of highly wrought ara- befques furrounds the filver plates, ftudded over with knobs, and with infcriptions in panels, all of folid filver, overlaid in parts with gilding. The clafps are of the fame metal, and are highly chafed. The infide of the cover is inlaid with filver plates, engraved in patterns and gilt, the whole executed in the bed tafte of the fixteenth century.
Venetian . Manufcripts. 27
The contents of this volume are worthy its magnificent exterior. The illuminations are numerous and moil carefully executed.1 The firft page, divided into eight fmall compart- ments, illuftrate, in miniature, the changes and chances of the eventful life of S. Foca, the Patron of the
1 Mr. Difraeli in his " Curiofities of Lite* " rature" makes mention of a volume the illuminations of which refemble, in fome de- gree, the "Mariegola" of the Califati, and may poffibly be by the fame hand, as it cer- tainly is of the fame date, and relates to a Venetian citizen.
It confifts of a feries of miniatures, fome of them in very fmall compartments, illus- trating the eventful life of Carlo Maggi, a Venetian. He ferved the republic in the wars of Cyprus in 1571, and after a feries of adventures he returns to Venice, and the laft pace reprefents him prefenting his book to the Doge in perfon.
The volume belonged to the Due de la Valliere, and was fubfequently fold at Gag- rat's audion for 2000 fr., confidered at that time a high price.
28 Remarks on Illuminated
craft. He began his earthly career as a (hip-builder, and in order that his devotees may never forget this circumftance, he is always rqpre- fented with a rudder by his fide. The firft compartment prefents him working with bare arms and legs at his calling of (hip-building. He fubfequently takes Holy Orders and becomes a prieft, and afterwards Bifliop of Sinope. He purfues a courfe of a&ive piety, performs mi- racks, walks on ferpents, converts the heathen, and finally expires in the odour of fan&ity, and is carried by his difciples with all due pomp to the grave. Each tiny compart- ment has an infcription beneath it in letters of gold, defcribing the fubjeft reprefented.
A page follows richly illuminated, bearing an infcription in letters of gold on a red ground, informing us to whofe piety and generofity the
Venetian Manufcripts. 29
community is indebted for this glo- rious volume.
" Fii principiata, fcritta, e miniata " foto la felice memoria delle Sere- " niflimo Principe Sebaftiano Venier " per la lddio gratia gia General " Vittorio Seflimo contra la gra " armata de Selim Imperetor de' " Turchi al giorno del conflite
" lS77"
The arms of Doge Sebaftian Venier are emblazoned at the foot of the meet. Another illuminated page follows with the Virgin Mary above and S. Mark beneath, bearing the ftandard of the republic. An- other contains a portrait of the fpe- cial patron of the craft, S. Foca, leaning on his rudder. All thefe miniatures are well drawn and rich in colour. They have fuffered lefs perhaps from time or damp than from the frequency with which they have been turned over and their
30 Remarks on Illuminated
beauties demonftrated by the finger of the zealous votaries of San Foca.
On another page, bearing an in- scription in letters of gold upon a blue ground, and furrounded by a border in rich but fober colours, is fet forth with quaint devotion, but not without pride, the utility and importance of the (hip-builders* craft. " Arte," it fays, " ordinata della " bonta di Dio di Salvar il Popolo " fuo et le creature fue dalle acque " del diluvio come appar nella letione " feconda del Genefio a Capitoli " VI."
Another infcription follows, writ- ten with equal pomp and in the fame ftyle; it is furrounded by a border of equal elegance of defign, having the arms of Doge Nicola da Ponte at the bottom of the fheet. This infcrip- tion announces that the city was vi- fited by the plague, by which difeafe the confraternity loft five hundred
Venetian Manufcripts. 31
brethren ; and it alfo records its libe- ration from the fcourge in the year 1576.
Not the lcaft interesting infcrip- tion in the volume is that which con- tains the name of the artift, and the date of his performance : — ** Fu mi- " niata la prefente matricola da me " Giorgio Colonna Citadino Veneto M e Anita effendo principe il Serenef- " fimo Nicola da Ponte 1 578 eflendo " Gaftaldo delta Scola noftra Fran- " cefco Mazza et Compagni anti " fcritti." The ftatutes of the fo- ciety follow, written on pages of vel- lum, with enriched borders and illu- minated initials.
As times change and circumftances alter, old ftatutes become obfolete, frefli rules are laid down and other canons are added, illuftrated and illuminated too, but in the ftyle of the ferenteenth and eighteenth cen- turies, coarfe, carelefs, and taftelefs,
32 Remarks on Illuminated
with fuch rude attempts at decoration as would lead one to iuppofe that the (hip's painter or carpenter had been employed to execute them ; nor is the " caligraphy" lefs various in its ftyle or more careful in its execution.
As the confraternity is under the patronage of the Government, the names of diftinguiftied perfons hold- ing high office, and having the fu- perintendence of the Arfenal, have been added. Thofe of the late Arch- duke Frederick and of the amiable and unfortunate Maximilian appear amongft them; that of the laft- named Prince written in a clear, dif- tin& hand. Our obliging Gaftaldo told us with affectionate remem- brance that his Imperial Highnefs had given a thoufand livres to the brethren when he had infcribed his name upon their roll, had commend- ed the beautiful volume to their fpe- cial care, and had been a yearly con-
Venetian Manufcripts. 33
tributor of three hundred florins to the fociety during his life.
The cuftom of illuminating pub- lic documents with miniatures dates from the year 1 376, when a general reform in matters of legal techni- cality was effected. Previous to that date illuminated documents are of the greateft rarity ; fubfequently they almoft always received this embel- lifhment.
In other countries this fpecies of luxury was referved principally for ecclefiaftical muniments ; in Venice it was otherwife, and thofe which relate to the Church are ufually the leaft decorated.
The " Lettere del Doge," written on parchment, and addrefled to com- munities and magiftracies as well as to individuals, are alfo frequently en- riched with illuminated initials and coats of arms.
In the Archives at Venice there is
34 Remarks on Illuminated
a beautiful muniment written on vel- lum and highly illuminated, approv- ing a legal decifion given in favour of the nuns of S. Juftina at Padua. It is figned by the chief of the Coun- cil of ten and two of its members, one of thefe laft being Michele Legge,1 a family of which a branch has long been eftablifhed in England in honour and diftindtion. The date of this document is 1510.
The licences to market-gardeners, huckfters, and coftermongers, to trade, iflued from the State offices, were written on vellum, and orna- mented with decorative emblems. I have before me the permiffion granted to Vincenzo Nordio to fell fi(h from the valley of Loreo for the fpace of fix months. The date is Auguft, 1736.
1 The noble name of Legge is pronounced and written in Venetian, £ezt. It is, I be- lieve, certain that Lord Dartmouth's family had its origin in Venice.
Venetian Manufcripts. 35
This practice was continued till the fall of the Republic with fuch diminifhed beauty as the decay into which all the arts — particularly that of the Illuminators — had fallen at that period, permitted.
Promissioni Ducali.
The Promiffione Ducale was the promife or engagement of the Doge on his election — his coronation oath, containing the ftatutes which he bound himfelf to obferve, defining the powers that the conftitution ai- figned him, while it laid down mi- nute regulations to be obferved by himfelf, his family, and his houfe- hold. This oath he took on the day of his election, and he repeated it once a-year in the month of Octo- ber, when all other oaths were re- newed.
The firft fi Promiffione " exifting
36 Remarks on Illuminated
dates from the year 1229, when the famous Doge Enrico Dandolo1 was elected. At that early period the claufes were fewer and the regula- tions lefs complicated ; fubfequently the corrections and additions became very numerous, as the death of each Doge and the election of his fuc- ceflbr always furnidied fome oc- cafion for modifications and reftric- tions, and the thin folio of a few (heets of vellum fwelled into a bulky volume.1
The original claufes remain in the Latin language, in which they were written ; the " corrections" are ufually in Italian, and bear the date of the year, month, and day in which
1 Blind old Dandolo, Th* o&ogenarian chief, Byzantium's con- quering foe. Childt Harold.
8 A commiflion of Senators, called Rettori, was appointed at the clofe of each reign to confider the Ducal Promiflione, and to fug- ged alterations.
Venetian Manufcripts. 37
they were enacted in the Great Council, during the interregnum before the election of the new Doge.
The Doge, on his election, was provided with a copy of the " Pro- miflione," a copy of it was alfo given to each couniellor when his own " capitolare" was delivered to him; both thefe documents were reflored to the Ducal chancery when his term of office expired.
The " Promiffione Ducale" re- mained in manufcript till the year 1606, when Leonardo Donato was elected Doge, on which occafion it was printed for the firft time. Seve- ral editions have fucceeded, the laft bearing the date of 1789, the year in which Ludovico Manin began his fatal reign.
The manufcript " Promiffioni" are very rare. Two are in the Imperial Library at Vienna ; others
38 Remarks on Illuminated
may perhaps be found in various col- lections, public and private, on the Continent. I am acquainted with only two in England; though I think it highly probable that others exift amongft the treafures of private col- lections.
Thofe in the Marcian Library are nine in number. The firft is that of Giovanni Soranzo, it is the oldeft, I believe, in exiftence; the date is 1 3 1 1 . The fecond, of Bartolommeo Gradenigo, in 1339. Two of Andrea Contarini, 1367-
!374- Thefe four manufcripts bear a
ftrong refemblance to each other, nor have they much to diflinguifti them in their outward appearance, the binding being alike in all, and quite without decoration. They all formed a part of the Morelli contri- bution to the library. Each confifts of about thirty folio (heets of parch-
Venetian Manufcripts. 39
ment, containing ftatutes divided into chapters, written in Latin, in clear and intelligible black letter; the initial letter of each paragraph is drawn with great precifion, in red and blue ink, with that fort of ornamental flourish with the pen which is the ufual decoration of the period, and which forms a fort of border on the left fide of the text.
The firft " Promiflione" con- taining a miniature is that of Doge Francefco Dandolo, dated 1328. This is in the Library of Vienna. The firft now exifting at Venice fo ornamented is only four years later in date ; it is that of Doge Andrea Dandolo, 1342. It is pre- ferved in the Correr Mufeum, and is written with all the neat nefs of the age, and with the ufual em- bellishments in the initial letters and borders. The portrait of the Doge in his Ducal bonnet is care-
40 Remarks on Illuminated
fully drawn, and the initial letter of the firft page is contrived be- fide it.
The " Promiflione" of Doge Mi- chel Morofini, in the Marcian Li- brary, refembles the four others firft noticed in the fame collec- tion, both in the ftyle of writing and in the marginal enrichment, with the addition, however, of illuminated borders. The date is 1382. The firft page contains the portrait of the Doge within an initial letter, and his arms are emblazoned at the bot- tom of the fheet, a rich border fur- rounding the whole. It is bound in wooden boards covered with crimfon velvet, from which the knobs and clafps have been ftripped.
The fame collection contains two " Promiffioni " of Doge Antonio Venier, both dated 1383. Thefe two volumes refemble the former in fize, in the ftyle of writing and the mar-
Venetian Manufcripts. 41
ginal enrichments, but they each contain the miniature portrait of a Doge who reigned fubfequently to Venier. The firft, befides a