Commissioned by the Este Court: Boccaccio's famous magnum opus and masterpiece of world literature
Oxford Decameron
Ferrara (Italy) — Around 1467

Oxford Decameron
Ferrara (Italy) — Around 1467
Giovanni Boccaccio's (1313–75) magnum opus of Italian literature in a beautiful 15th century manuscript by Taddeo Crivelli (d. 1479)
The manuscript was commissioned by Teofilo Calcagnini, a high official at the court of Borso d'Este
Colorful friezes with floral ornaments, miniatures, and elaborate initials adorn each page of the codex
Oxford Decameron
- Der Oxforder Dekameron
Short Description
A wonderful 15th century Italian manuscript luxuriously frames one of the most famous works of world literature: Boccaccio’s Decameron, a richly and diverse collection of stories from the mid–14th century. At the behest of Teofilo Calcagnini, the Ferrara miniaturist Taddeo Crivelli completed a masterpiece of his art with gorgeous miniatures and impressive ornamentation, a variety of forms and compositions!
Boccaccio's Decameron
This wonderful testimonial to 15th century Italian illumination is stored today in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The shelf mark MS. Holkham misc. 49 refers to its provenance: the manuscript resided centuries long in Holkham Hall in Norfolk, the famous country home of Thomas Coke, First Earl of Leicester, with his famous library with books from his grand tour of Italy. It was surely there that the Earl acquired the impressive Decameron manuscript originating from Ferrara ca. 1467.
In the Circle of the Court of Ferrara
The manuscript originated at the behest of Teofilo Calcagnini, an official at the court of Borso d’Este. Taddeo Crivelli (active in Ferrara 1451–1479), a gifted miniaturist, was responsible for the Ferrara-style Renaissance illumination. Under the rule of Borso d’Este, Crivelli worked both for noble as well as institutional patrons. One of his significant works was surely the Bible of Borso d’Este, one of the primary works of Italian Renaissance illumination.
The Famous Ten-Day-Work
Taddeo Crivelli created a splendid manuscript of the famous Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) for the court official. The collection of short stories by the humanist-influenced author of the Italian Renaissance is considered to be one of the most important works of world literature. Originating around the middle of the 14th century, Boccaccio narrates 100 stories altogether – told by ten people over ten days – with the plague in Florence as a backdrop.
The Diverse Book Decoration
Every page of the manuscript is wonderfully designed – and each differently. A variety of ideas and concepts are presented here. The text in two columns is often framed by colorful ornamental friezes, adorned with floral ornamentation, or illustrated with miniatures of the content. This diverse, colorful adornment inter alia is taken from mythology and from the Decameron itself. Artful initials round out the accomplished pictorial adornment.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Der Oxforder Dekameron
- Size / Format
- 340 pages / 35.6 x 26.5 cm
- Origin
- Ferrara (Italy)
- Date
- Around 1467
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Artist / School
- Author: Giovanni Boccaccio
Illuminator:Teofilo Calcagnini - Previous Owners
- Francescani Osservanti
Thomas Coke, Duke of Leceister
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Oxford Decameron“
Oxford Decameron
- Publisher
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – Rome
- Limited Edition
- 599 copies
- Binding
- Red silk velvet with gold stamping
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Federica Toniolo, Marco Cursi e Teresa Nocita
- More Information
- 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.
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