Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Canzionere
Italy, Rome, ca. 1500
MS M.427 fol. 1r

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Petrarch, hooded, wearing wreath on his head, sits on chair at desk, ornamented with fantastic animal, and writes with pen held in right hand. Scene in room with shelves, containing books, hourglass, vase, and cup, partially covered with curtains; stool; window; and arched doorway with curtain.
In lower margin, two putti flank wreath enclosing escutcheon with arms of Orsini (Bendy of six argent and gules, on a chief of the first supported by a device or a rose of the second).