Summary:
Manuscript 504 contains the Speculum naturale of Vincent of
Beauvais (c. 1190-1264), a French Dominican scholar. The Speculum
discusses the natural sciences and natural history, including among
others biological, geological, astronomical, and zoological
knowledge. Together with the Speculum doctrinale, that discusses
scholastical knowledge, and the Speculum historiale, a world
history, the Speculum naturale form the so-called Speculum maius,
the largest encyclopaedic work produced in the Middle Ages. The
Speculum naturale is divided into 32 books, of which this copy only
contains the first ten. The last book is incomplete; the text stops
abruptly at the top of fol. 167v. The presence of the Ten Duinen
stamp on this leaf (see below) indicates that this was already the
case in the early seventeenth century. The copy is 42 cm high and
has been executed carefully. Decoration is present throughout. The
first page of each book begins with a large initial, while the text
is surrounded by a decorated frame, all in elaborate penwork. Minor
initials have been added alternately in red and blue ink, with
penwork in the other colour. Running titles and rubrics are
present, although these lack towards the end of the volume. The
margins are clean and there are no traces of usage. This manuscript
was owned by Ten Duinen abbey. The cross-shaped stamp of the abbey
is found on the first and final leaves. In the seventeenth century
it was rebound in a binding of the 'Campmans' type, although
without the gilded crest of the abbot. [Summary by Dr. Mark
Vermeer] Title:
Speculum naturale fratris vincentii [rubriektitel] Note:
[f. 1r] rubriektitels bovenmarge: 'Incipit speculum naturale
fratris vincentii', 'Apologia tocius operis'
[f. 1r] bovenmarge buitenhoek, 17de-eeuwse titel, Carolus de
Visch?: 'Speculum naturale vincentii. 25. I'
[f. 1r] rubriektitel: 'I. De causa suscepti operis et eius
materia'
[f. 1r] inc.: 'Qvoniam multitudo librorum et temporis breuitas'
[f. 167v] expl.: 'Nascitur in locis aquasis et in paludibus et in
partis. In hiis radicibus illa'; hier breekt de tekst af
Bevat Liber I-X (onvolledig, tot 161); Bruges Version
[verso schutblad vooraan] titel 18de-eeuwse hand: 'Speculi
naturalis Vincentii pars prima'
Meerdere handen
Naar het einde toe zijn de rubriektitels niet meer ingevuld, de
lopende titels wel Topic general subdivision:
Wiskunde - natuurwetenschappen
Godsdienst Material:
Perkament Extent:
i + 167 ff. + i Dimensions:
420 x 320 mm Decoration and binding:
gedecoreerde initialen
Campmansband (ca. 1625-1650) Script:
gotischgotische textualis Provenance:
Cisterciënzerabdij Ten Duinen (S.O.Cist.) Genre/form:
Spiegels
Encyclopedieën en summa's
