Treatises on divination and geomancy  thumbnail 1
Treatises on divination and geomancy  thumbnail 2
+10
images

Treatises on divination and geomancy

Manuscript
c. 1466-1469 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

89 leaves : parchment, col. ill.
Text begins: Incipit ars completa geomanciae. Quoniam quamplures praedecessorum nostrorum de quibus post deum tenemus ...
Layout: 38 long lines.
Script: Italian humanistic script.
Decoration: Title page text in gold, blue, red and green capitals; illuminated initials (1 historiated); astronomical tables and diagrams; illuminated coat of arms.
Binding: Light-brown calf binding, blind and gold tooled; sides decorated with a wide border and centre ornament incorporating a fleur-de-lys.
Possibly written in Rome.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTreatises on divination and geomancy (alternative title)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Manuscript, Ars completa geomantiae, once attributed to the translator Gerard of Cremona (1113/1114-1187), Italy (Padua), c. 1466-1469.
Physical description
89 leaves : parchment, col. ill.
Text begins: Incipit ars completa geomanciae. Quoniam quamplures praedecessorum nostrorum de quibus post deum tenemus ...
Layout: 38 long lines.
Script: Italian humanistic script.
Decoration: Title page text in gold, blue, red and green capitals; illuminated initials (1 historiated); astronomical tables and diagrams; illuminated coat of arms.
Binding: Light-brown calf binding, blind and gold tooled; sides decorated with a wide border and centre ornament incorporating a fleur-de-lys.
Possibly written in Rome.
Dimensions
  • Height: 34cm
  • Width: 24cm
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
(24/03/2018)
TREATISES ON DIVINATION HEADED 'THE COMPLETE ART OF GEOMANCY'
About 1466-9 Possibly by Gerald of Cremona (1114-87)

The text explains how to foretell the future and read the hidden meanings of natural and 'supernatural' signs. A 12th century inventory attributes this translation to Gerald of Cremona, who sought out Arabic texts in Toledo, a centre for scholarship in Islamic Spain. Rare texts of this kind were much prized by Renaissance scholars.

Italy, possibly Padua
Ink on parchment, with watercolour and gold
Written out about 1466-9 by Bartolomeo Sanvito (about 1435 - about 1511)
Museum no. MSL/1950/2464 (Phillips MS. 5839)
Object history
Collection of Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872): formerly known as Phillipps MS.5839. Collection of Frederick North, Earl of Guildford: his armorial bookplate.
Other numbers
  • KRP.D.17 - NAL Pressmark
  • 38041800151979 - NAL barcode
Collection
Library number
MSL/1950/2464

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 1, 2017
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest