The Florentine writer and notary Brunetto Latini went into exile in
1260, after the Guelphs lost the Battle of Montaperti. Until 1266
he took up residence in France, where he wrote the Trésor, an
encyclopedia written in French that was widely used until the end
of the 15th century. The illuminator of the Bibliothèque de
Genève’s copy of the manuscript is known as the "Master of the
Geneva Latini" or as the "Maître de l'échevinage de Rouen.”
Originally decorated with four frontispieces, the manuscript today
has only two, one of which is a famous representation of a medieval
urban market.