Details
GERARDUS ZUTPHANIENSIS (1367-1398) De reformatione trium virium animae. MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM.
[Low Countries, early 15th century]
127 x 89mm. 41ff (containing all or part of 39 out of 59 chapters of De reformatione, and 9 chapters of another work, not attributed to Gerardus, beginning Incipit exercitium devotum ac breve), collation: 1-48, 59 (i a singleton), single column of 23 lines written in a gothic bookhand in dark brown ink between bounding verticals and horizontals ruled in pale ink, justification: 90 x 55mm, paragraphs in red, text capitals touched red, major rubrics in red, others underlined in red, one- and two- line initials of red or blue, 2 LARGE DECORATED INITIALS with divided staves of red and blue, with flourishing of red, violet and olive green making vegetal forms in the infills and extending to make borders in two margins. (Incomplete, with chapters and parts of chapters bound out of order. Some staining and wear, marginal comments erased, stab-hole in fore-edge margins.) Reused green velvet over pasteboard.
De reformatione trium virium animae is one of the two main theological works of Gerard Zerbolt of Zutphen, an early exponent of the devotio moderna and librarian to the Brethren of the Common Life at Deventer. Thomas à Kempis, in his Vita of Gerard, remarks of him: 'plus gaudebat de bono codice bene scripto, quam de prandio lauto aut optimi saporis vino' ('he took more delight in a good and well written book than in a sumptuous feast or the finest wine'). The Dictionnaire de Spiritualité writes of his 'réalisme néerlandais', and notes his influence on Ignatius of Loyola.
[Low Countries, early 15th century]
127 x 89mm. 41ff (containing all or part of 39 out of 59 chapters of De reformatione, and 9 chapters of another work, not attributed to Gerardus, beginning Incipit exercitium devotum ac breve), collation: 1-48, 59 (i a singleton), single column of 23 lines written in a gothic bookhand in dark brown ink between bounding verticals and horizontals ruled in pale ink, justification: 90 x 55mm, paragraphs in red, text capitals touched red, major rubrics in red, others underlined in red, one- and two- line initials of red or blue, 2 LARGE DECORATED INITIALS with divided staves of red and blue, with flourishing of red, violet and olive green making vegetal forms in the infills and extending to make borders in two margins. (Incomplete, with chapters and parts of chapters bound out of order. Some staining and wear, marginal comments erased, stab-hole in fore-edge margins.) Reused green velvet over pasteboard.
De reformatione trium virium animae is one of the two main theological works of Gerard Zerbolt of Zutphen, an early exponent of the devotio moderna and librarian to the Brethren of the Common Life at Deventer. Thomas à Kempis, in his Vita of Gerard, remarks of him: 'plus gaudebat de bono codice bene scripto, quam de prandio lauto aut optimi saporis vino' ('he took more delight in a good and well written book than in a sumptuous feast or the finest wine'). The Dictionnaire de Spiritualité writes of his 'réalisme néerlandais', and notes his influence on Ignatius of Loyola.