Basinio de Parma (1425-1457)

Written in a neat humanistic hand. Illustrated with 38 well executed pen drawings of constellations, etc., the stars in red. The manuscript is foliated 120r-153v, so it was originally part of a larger work. The illustrations are mostly in the style of the printed editions of Manilius, Hyginus and Aratus.

f. 121r Aetherios orbis, subiectaque templa deorum / Musa cane, atque uias semper uoluentis olimpi / ... 153v Qui nunc astrorum motus subiectaque diuum / Templa cano atque uias semper uoluentes olimpi.

c.1475

1 volume 35 ll. (first & last 2 bl.). 4to. 19 1/2 x 14 cm. Modern vellum binding. A leaf has been cut out after the end of the text.

Purchased 1923.

This poem was dedicated to Sigismondo Pandulfo Malatesta [1417-1468]. According to Tiraboschi 'Storia della letteratura Italiana'. Vol VI, Part I, p. 896, it was written in 1454-1456. Cf. also B. Soldati 'La poesia astrologica nel quattrocento', Florence. 1906. Cap. I, pp. 74-104.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).

This material has been digitised and can be freely accessed online through Wellcome Collection catalogue.