Bibliotheca splendidissima Rendorpiana. The entire ... library of the late ... John Rendorp, Esq. ... containing ... rare books of the fifteenth century; antient manuscript romances, etc. Which will be sold ... by Mr. Sotheby ... on ... February 28, 1825, and seven following days / [Jan Rendorp].

  • Rendorp, Jan, van Marquette.
Date:
1825]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bibliotheca splendidissima Rendorpiana. The entire ... library of the late ... John Rendorp, Esq. ... containing ... rare books of the fifteenth century; antient manuscript romances, etc. Which will be sold ... by Mr. Sotheby ... on ... February 28, 1825, and seven following days / [Jan Rendorp]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1334 Christine de Pisan les Cent Histoires de Troye, autrement TEpitre que Othea Deesse de Prudence envova Jadis au Preu et tres vaillant Hector de Troye, fil du Roy Priumt, lors qu’il estoit en son flourissant eage de quinze ans/' *** Magnificent Manuscript on Vellum, with One Hundred AND Fifteen Miniatures executed for Philip the Hardy, Duke of Burgundy and Earl of Flanders, Son of John King OF France, to whom it is dedicated. The Work is a mixed composition in Prose and Verse, the scope of which is to afford a young prince snch instruction for the conduct of life, as may render him the honour of knighthood. The epistle, or poetical part called the text^ is written in verses of four feet, and contains a brief moral deduction from each of the one hundred events or traits of fabulous and heroic history,REPRESENTED in one hundred miniature paintings. This text is accompanied by a Gloss or commentary, which explains and moralizes the stories; and an allegorical interpretation, in which they are applied to Christian morality; and here Christine has shown herself well read in the text of Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, and all the writers of the middle age. “ Human life (says she) w e may call true chivalry; as a simply virtuous being, every man has to combat the vices: and as a Christian, to encounter the assaults of the enemy of hell. It is in consequence of this proposition that the epistle is addressed to the preux et tres vailliant Hector of Troy, teaching him the means of obtaining this victory. Othea is typically the Goddess of Wisdom^ and it seems that the denomination is derived from a no less poetical source than Homer, The greek poet often designates Minerva by the word 6h, and sometimes by way of invocation hence Christine, or some one of her predecessors^ has formed a new name for the Goddess of Wisdom. Christine thus explains the plan of her work:—“ As the ancients had not the light of faith, they adored many deities; God had not yet opened the gates of mercy on mankind. At present (says she) we Christians, by the grace of God, illuminated by true faith, can reduce the opinions of the ancients to morality, and on them many beautiful allegories maybe made. Many wise ladies were in their time denominated goddesses,and it is a true thing, according to history, that in the time when Troy the great pros- pered in its high renown, a very w ise lady called Othea, considering the lovely youth of Hector of Troy (who then flourished in all virtue), sent him many notable and goodly gifts, and also the beautiful charger which K