Astronomia by Christianus Prolianus

A splendid astronomical manuscript with shimmering golden planets and gorgeous decorative frames full of symbolism: the Astronomia by Christianus Prolianus is a fine specimen of the Neapolitan Quattrocento. Although the identity of its original patron and owner has been debated, they were a member of the Aragonese royal family in Naples. Various diagrams attempt to explain the movements of the planets and celestial phenomena like eclipses, and the instructive text is presented in gorgeous bianchi girari frames –featuring splendid white branch-work on red-blue-green grounds that were typical of 15th century Italian Humanist manuscripts. Despite its debated provenance, it is one of the finest astronomy manuscripts ever created.

Golden Heavenly Spheres

The most eye-catching feature of the manuscript are its glimmering golden circles, which represent the Sun and planets of the solar system with the significant exceptions of Earth and the Moon, which are represented by a T and O map and a (now tarnished) silver circle, respectively. They likely originated along with the rest of the manuscript at the workshop of Gioacchino di Gigantibus de Rottenburg (fl. ca. 1453-1485), a German illuminator in Naples. As for the text itself, it was likely composed by a tutor for the children for the court secretary Petrucci named Cristiano Proliano, about whom little is known aside that he was born in Balvano in Basilicata. It was likely a teaching aid and consists of thirteen chapters divided into five parts beginning with Aristotle’s concept of the four elements that make up the celestial sphere before moving on to the solar system, astronomical geography, and even an attempt to explain eclipses in a geocentric model. Finally, there are tables covering the movements of celestial bodies and notes on eclipses beginning in 1478, all specifically referring to the “Meridian of Naples”.

A Glimpse of Contemporary Italian Politics

After being ruled by various French dynasties since the late-13th century, the Kingdom of Naples was conquered in 1442 by King Alfonso V of Aragon (1396-1458), who established a new dynasty as Alfonso I of Naples. Aside from being a warrior, Alfonso was also a patron of the arts and established a humanist court there with a particular focus on classical literature. With papal consent, he was able to name his illegitimate son Ferdinand his heir in Naples, while his brother John succeeded him in Spain as John II of Aragon. It would appear as though the crowned coat of arms found on the first page belongs to Ferdinand I of Naples (1423-94), but upon closer examination it is actually a mirror image of it. The prevalence of parakeets, which are associated with Naples, and butterflies, associated with Florence, are additional clues from the manuscript’s adornment concerning its origins. The two cities were at war during the 1470’s and the King’s son, Giovanni d'Aragona (1456–1485), played a key role in peace talks and was made a cardinal in the same year as the manuscript. Therefore, the coat of arms was Giovanni’s and probably had a cardinal’s hat originally. Giovanni died before his father, who inherited his son’s library, at which the red cap was painted over by a golden crown when it became royal property.

A Centuries-Long Journey

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the manuscript first made its way to England before passing through various libraries in France. It was owned by the ruling household of the Duchy of La Vallière and was acquired by Bernard Quaritch (1819-1899), a German-born British bibliophile known as the “Napoleon of Booksellers”. He then sold the manuscript for around £20 to William Morris (1834-96), a contributor to the British Arts and Crafts Movement, who had a professional interest in the aesthetics of illumination. Morris later lamented selling the manuscript, which he estimated was worth £300-400 but had been acquired by James Ludovic Lindsay (1847-1913), 26th Earl of Crawford for only £42. The Astronomia was finally bequeathed to the John Rylands Library in 1908 after it was purchased for the last time in 1901 by Enriqueta Rylands (1843 – 1908), widow of the library’s founder.