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Medici Codex of 1518

Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection

Italy — 1518

Pope Leo X's exquisite wedding gift to his nephew and his bride: 53 enchanting motets by 21 of the most significant composers of the Renaissance as expression of the generous Medici patronage

  1. Pope Leo X (1475–1521) gave the music book to his nephew Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici (1492–1519) and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne (1498–1519) as a wedding gift

  2. After the marriage in Amboise on 2 May 1518, the manuscript was presented to the couple on their arrival in Florence

  3. It contains 53 delightful motets by altogether 21 leading Renaissance composers from France, Flanders, Portugal and Italy

Medici Codex of 1518

Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
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Description
Medici Codex of 1518

The Medici Codex of 1518 is one of the most significant music books of the European 16th century. It contains 53 motets by a total of 21 leading Renaissance composers from France, Flanders, Portugal and Italy. The manuscript is the only surviving evidence of the work of the Portuguese composer Andreas de Silva (fl. 1520) and features, among other pieces, the famous Déporation de Ockeghem - a heartfelt lament on the death of the Franco-Flemish composer Johannes Ockeghem (ca. 1410-1497). The French court composer Jean Mouton (ca. 1459-1522), ten of whose motets can also be found in the Medici Codex, may have been responsible for the compilation of the work. Its patron was the Medici Pope Leo X (1475-1521), who gave the valuable manuscript to his nephew Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici (1492-1519) and his bride Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne (1498-1519) for their wedding. After the marriage took place on 2 May 1528 in Amboise in France, the gift was presented on the couple's triumphant arrival in Florence. The illumination of the codex is appropriately splendid, with its pages adorned all over with beautiful decorated initials.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Medici-Codex von 1518
A Choirbook of Motets dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino
Origin
Italy
Date
1518
Genre
Music
Language
Latin
Illustrations
Decorated initials on almost every page; bas-de-page miniatures
Content
53 motets by 21 composers
Patron
Pope Leo X (1475–1521)
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, (1492–1519) and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne (1498–1519)
Available facsimile editions:
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
#1 Medici Codex of 1518
University of Chicago Press – Chicago, 1968
Detail Picture

Medici Codex of 1518

Medici Coat of Arms

The wonderful bas-de-page miniature on fol. 2v shows three coats of arms connected by a foliate scroll, floating in front of a dreamy landscape. Two putti flank the central, slightly larger crest, which is crowned by a tiara and two crossed keys – the heraldic symbols of papal dignity. Meanwhile, the crest on the left, with its cardinal's hat as a coronet, represents cardinal dignity, and the one on the right the secular rank as count.

All three coats of arms belong to Leo X, the Medici pope who commissioned the manuscript. Each of the three emblems features the six red roundels typical of the family crest. In addition, the banner in the filigree-ornamented initial above presents the Medici motto: “SEMPER” – meaning “always.”

Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Single Page

Medici Codex of 1518

A Heraldic Fusion

In this bas-de-page miniature on fol. 3r, two putti hold a two-part coat of arms crowned with a count's coronet. The left half shows the six red roundels of the Medici family crest, while the right half shows the coat of arms of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, assembled from their various counties. This heraldic fusion reflects the occasion on which the manuscript was given as a gift: the marriage of Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne – the union of both houses.

Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Facsimile Editions

#1 Medici Codex of 1518

University of Chicago Press – Chicago, 1968
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection
Medici Codex of 1518 – University of Chicago Press – Private Collection Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: University of Chicago Press – Chicago, 1968
Commentary: 1 volume by Edward E. Lowinsky
Language: English
Facsimile Copy Available!
Regular price (new) 890  €
Special Offer until 10/31/2025 (like new) 499  €
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
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