Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Epithoma delle romanae historie
Italy, Naples, ca. 1485
MS M.425 fol. 1r

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Decorated initial H enclosing bianchi girari ornament and two putti. Textblock in frame consisting of acanthus-leaf garland. Margins with bianchi girari ornament, inhabited by seven putti, including two winged, playing horns, flanking medallion enclosing stag in top margin; and in right margin, one playing horn and one holding club. Margins also inhabited by four birds, including peacock in left margin and crane (?) in right margin.
In right and lower margins are four medallions with portrait busts of notable Romans, each with name inscribed on frame, including (clockwise from top right): IVLIVS DIVVS; M[ARCUS] AGRIPPA, wearing fillet; AVGSTVS DIVVS (sic), wearing crown; and M[ARCUS] ANTONIVS.
In lower margin is heraldic crest, consisting of escutcheon with unidentified arms (Bendy argent and gules, a chief azure), surmounted by helm, encircled with laurel wreath with jewel and surmounted by head of lion.