Bifolium from St Simon of Cascia, De gestis domini salvatoris, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [Southern Netherlands, 14th century]

Bifolium from St Simon of Cascia, De gestis domini salvatoris, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [Southern Netherlands, 14th century]

Each leaf c. 310 × 215 mm, frame-ruled for 2 columns of about 48 lines written in an angular gothic bookhand, a rubric in red, quotations underlined in red, capitals stroked in red, one red and one blue initial, the text comprising parts of Book 12 chapters 3–4 and 10–11, the red initial introducing Book 12, chapter 4 (“Fit in desiderio animus hominis verorum bonorum …”, at p. 735 in the 1540 edition by Simon Fidato) [I don’t have an image of the page with the blue initial, but I expect it is a ‘C’ for “Comparatio ad superiorem …”, edition p. 745], a natural hole in the vellum outlined in red on both sides, recovered from use in a binding, with cropping and other consequent damage, the vellum somewhat brittle.

St Simon of Cascia (c. 1295–1348) was a follower of the Franciscan spiritual Angelo Clareno de Cingoli, who turned his attention to public preaching and the saving of souls. He was a member of the Order of Augustinian Hermits, and composed this, his most widely known work, between 1338 and 1347 at the urging of Tommaso Corsini in Rome. It was of exceptional popularity in the Middle Ages, and is thought to have been among the key influences of the reformer Martin Luther. The author was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1833.