Undated. Humanistic script attributed to Piero Strozzi, a
Florentine priest who copied a great many manuscripts (mostly
unsigned) between 1443 and 1483 or later. He was closely associated
with Vespasiano de Bisticci. This manuscript is a typical example
of Piero’s beautiful, regular script in his middle period,
between about 1455 and 14710. Vespasiano called him the most
beautiful scribe of his day. The magnificent border, with delicate
vignettes, animals, birds and putti playing, is almost certainly by
the famous illuminator Francesco d'Antonio del Cherico (as Vienna,
ÖNB, Cod. 309). It is an example of his vine-stem style as opposed
to his better known flower or choir-book styles. The arms have been
erased but a note by Digby says that the manuscript was bought from
the Piccolomini Library at Siena, so that it may have been written
for Pope Pius II (1458-64).
