Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut.40.52
(L'Acerba etas)
Codicology
Produced: | 14th century |
Current Location: | Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence, Italy |
Manuscript Type: | Encyclopedia |
Language: | Italian |
Folios: | 84 |
Author: | Cecco d'Ascoli |
Illustrated: | Yes |
Media: | Parchment |
Dimensions: | Height: 19 cm Width: 27.5 cm |
Description
This is an early manuscript of L'Acerba etas by Cecco d’Ascoli (1257-1327), a compendium of natural science, including the order and influences of the heavens, the characteristics and properties of animals and precious stones, and the causes of phenomena such as meteors and earthquakes.
The Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana manuscript description, based on the printed catalog produced by Angelo Maria Bandini (1726-1803) incorrectly divides the text into two parts: L'Acerba and an anonymous De physionomia liber. The manuscript contains only the L'Acerba; the mislabeled Physionomia is an integral part of that text and is also by Cecco d’Ascoli.
The section on animals and birds, possibly based on the Physiologus, starts on folio 31r (Book III). It includes an Aviary (book of birds) and Lapidary (book of stones, with stones shown mounted on rings). It is fully illustrated with finely executed colored drawings.
Additional Descriptions
Additional description 1
Additional description 2
Editions and Facsimiles
Printed editions
The Bitter Age (English translation)
L' Acerba etas
Printed facsimiles
Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
Digital facsimiles