Through the LIBRARY it is possible to consult the data sheet of several important codices that enable to reconstruct the written culture of the patriarchate of Aquileia. Moreover, for many codices, the complete reproductions are made available, which makes this site a true virtual library of patriarchal Friuli.

Livy, Ab urbe condita libri XXXI-XL

  • 1456-1457; parchment; mm 380 × 215; ff. 194.
  • Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, lat. 8954.

This precious Livy’s codex, ordered by Guarnerio d'Artegna and by the latter left to the community of San Daniele del Friuli, was ultimately brought to Paris by Napoleons’ army, as well.

The manuscript Par. lat. 8954 containing Livy’s fourth decade (that is books XXXI-XL that narrate the second Macedonian war events against Philip V and the war against Antiochus of Syria, over a chronological length from 201 to 179 b. C.) is the sequel of ms. Par. lat. 9679 (containing the first decade, that is books I-X, written in littera antiqua script by a non-identified copyist) and ms. Par. lat. 8953 (containing the third decade, that is books XXI-XXX, fully written by Battista da Cingoli). The ms. Par. lat. 8954 is the only Guarnerio’s codex that alternates Niccolò de Collibus’ and Battista da Cingoli’s hands; in 1797 it was brought to Paris by Napoleons’ army, where it got into the Latin fund of the ‘Bibliothèque Nationale’ together with Guarnerio’s manuscripts containing the 1st and 3rd decades. On f. 2r the gilded initial M with interlaced white-vine-stem decoration is embedded in a large-sized rectangular frame. On the right border there is drawn a winged putto and in the bottom other two putti placed aside the round frame embedding Guarnerio’s coat of arms, a white castle on the top of a hill; other gilded initials are on ff. 20r, 36v, 59r, 79v, 124v, 153v, 178r.

Country of locationFrance
LocationParis
Library / CollectionBibliothèque Nationale de France
Shelfmarklat. 8954
AuthorLivy
LanguagesLatin
Support materialParchment
Extentff. 194
Formatmm 380 × 215
Age1456-1457
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