Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript – Imago – ms. SC-MS. 1162 (D II 41) – Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga (Rimini, Italy)

Venice or Bologna (Italy) β€” 1392–1393 or 1399–1400

A masterpiece of the Italian Trecento: the Dante manuscript illuminated by Cristoforo Cortese, the most important Venetian illuminator of the late Gothic period

  1. Commissioned Iacopo Gradenifo (1725–92), this manuscript is an outstanding specimen of the Trecento

  2. It was decorated by Cristoforo Cortese (ca. 1400–1445), the most significant late-Gothic Venetian miniaturist

  3. This specimen of Dante's (ca. 1265–1321) magnum opus also features a commentary by Jacopo della Lana (1290–1365)

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

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  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

This impressive manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s famous magnum opus presents itself as an outstanding testimonial to the Dante-illustration of the Trecento. A commission of Iacopo Gradenifo – and also known as la Divina Commedia Gradenighiana after this Venetian poet – the manuscript was decorated by Cristoforo Cortese, the most significant late-Gothic Venetian miniaturist. In this way, one can still have the impressive experience of Dante’s Divine Comedy!

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

This impressive manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s famous magnum opus presents itself as an outstanding testimonial to the Dante-illustration of the Trecento. A commission of Iacopo Gradenifo – and also known as la Divina Commedia Gradenighiana after this Venetian poet – the manuscript was decorated by Cristoforo Cortese, the most significant late-Gothic Venetian miniaturist. In this way, one can still have the impressive experience of Dante’s Divine Comedy!

From the Hand of a Master of Illumination

The manuscript, originating in Venice in the 1390’s, is gorgeously embellished in the gothic style of illumination. The bright colors of the miniatures glow with precious gold, which is expertly inset for accentuation. For example, elegantly minimized but very expressive miniatures show the primary characters of the text and thus demonstrate the mastery of their creator: Cristoforo Cortese, the important late-Gothic Venetian miniaturist. Cortese made 23 miniatures for the manuscript. This visual adornment was expanded upon by additional paintings from the Master of the Brussels Initials, to whom are attributed the first page and a few other paintings in the book.

Outstanding Testimonial to the Trecento

The manuscript either arose ca. 1392/93 or 1399–1400 as a commission of the Venetian poet Iacopo Gradenigo, called il Belletto, who also gave directions for its precise design. The magnum opus of Dante Alighieri (1265–1321), the famous Divina Commedia, is accompanied here by a commentary by Jacopo della Lana. The Italian text of this milestone of world literature is wonderfully presented on 252, 39.5 x 25.5 cm pages. This edition of the Divine Comedy is an outstanding attestation of the Dante illustration of the Trecento!

A Variety of Owners and Names

Today the manuscript is a part of the Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga in Rimini. It is additionally named la Divina Commedia Gradenighiana after its famous patron. An additional stop in the library of Carol Malatesta earned the manuscript of the Divine Comedy an additional designation as the Codex Malatesta. Finally in the 18th century – in the year 1793 – it came into the Biblioteca Gambalunga as a part of the collection of Cardinal Joseph Garampi.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Divina Commedia dei Malatesta
Divina Commedia - Codice gambalunghiano
Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Divina commedia
Estense Divine Comedy
GΓΆttliche KomΓΆdie
Dante Gradenigo
Size / Format
252 pages / 39.5 Γ— 25.5 cm
Origin
Italy
Date
1392–1393 or 1399–1400
Style
Language
Script
Humanistic
Illustrations
24 miniatures, 23 watercolor pen drawings and 22 decorative initials
Content
The Divine Comedy by Dante with a commentary by Jacopo della Lana; excerpts from Menghino Mezzani, Jacopo Alighieri and Giovanni Boccaccio
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Cardinal Joseph Garampi (1725–1792)
Sanudo familiy

Available facsimile editions:
Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript – Imago – ms. SC-MS. 1162 (D II 41) – Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga (Rimini, Italy)
Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2015
Limited Edition: 599 copies
Detail Picture

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

Dante Meets Virgil

The work begins on the night before Good Friday in the year 1300 with the author/protagonist lost in a dark wood and being pursued by a lion, a leopard, and a she-wolf. The forest represents sin and each of the three beasts represents a different kind of sin: the self-indulgent, the violent, and the malicious. He is rescued by the esteemed ancient Roman author Virgil, who then accompanies Dante on his journey to the underworld. Hell is later divided according to these classifications.

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript – Imago – ms. SC-MS. 1162 (D II 41) – Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga (Rimini, Italy)
Single Page

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript

Patron Page

Rather than containing a portrait of the patron, Iacopo Gradenigo, the opening page of this Dante manuscript contains his family’s coat of arms, which were subsequently painted over by a later owner, the Sanudo family: a blue band across a silver field, now tarnished. The text of this first page in the manuscript is framed by wonderful tendrils in primary colors and gold leaf.

Other original symbols in the bas-de-page miniature still point to the patron: two scrolls with now illegible mottos, two helmets with red fringed pavilions and crests, a griffin crowned with gold leaf, and a bust of a nude man with a beard with a white band around his shoulders. Although damaged in places, the uniform text was obviously written by an expert hand.

Divine Comedy - Gambalunga Manuscript – Imago – ms. SC-MS. 1162 (D II 41) – Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga (Rimini, Italy)
Facsimile Editions

#1 Divina Commedia dei Malatesta

Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2015

Publisher: Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2015
Limited Edition: 599 copies
Binding: Leather
Commentary: 1 volume by Massimo Pulini, Massimo Pasquinelli, Paola Delbianco, Giordana Mariani Canova and Marco Veglia
Language: Italian
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Price Category: €€€ (3,000€ - 7,000€)
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