Manuscript

Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Cod.theol.et.phil.fol.45
(De universo)

Codicology

Produced: Heidelberg (?), 1457
Current Location: Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart, Germany
Manuscript Type: Encyclopedia
Language: Latin
Folios: 298
Author: Rabanus Maurus
Illustrated: Yes
Media: Paper
Dimensions: Height: 31.5 cm Width: 21.5 cm
Sample page - Württembergische Landesbibliothek - Cod.theol.et.phil.fol.45
Folio 105r

Description

The De universo or De rerum naturis, an encyclopedia by Rabanus Maurus. Illustrated with a few sketched drawings (sometimes colored) in the margins for Book 8,3 .(serpents), 8.5 (fish) and 8.6 (birds). The drawings are generally crude; some are simple pencil sketches with no color, perhaps preliminary work or later additions.

Some of the illustrations show similarities to those in Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 291, in content though not in style (e,g salamander on folio 94v).

Book 7, chapter 8 (domestic animals) is on folio 84r-93r. There is a section of text missing at folio 85r; the descriptions of the wether, the goat and the lamb are lost.

Book 8 (animals, fish, birds, serpents) is on folio 93r-111v.

  1. Animals (De bestiis) : folio 93r-97r
  2. Small animals (De minutis animantibus) : folio 97r-98r
  3. Serpents (De serpentibus) : folio 98r-101r
  4. Worms (De vermibus) : folio 101r-102r
  5. Fish (De piscibus) : folio 102r-103v
  6. Birds (De avibus) : folio 103v-110r
  7. Small birds (De minutis avibus) : folio 110r-111v

Additional Descriptions

Additional description 1
Additional description 2

Editions and Facsimiles

Digital facsimiles

Württembergische Landesbibliothek