12th century cutting rescued from binding - St Cerbonius

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Original cutting on animal parchment from a medieval manuscript Hagiography (biography of saints). The text of this fragment contains the October portion of a calendar of Hagiography – including the lives and eulogies of St. Denis (first Bishop of Paris), brother martyrs Rusticus and Eleutherius, and St. Cerbonius  - Bishop of Populonia [Piombino in Tuscany]. (210 x 285mm).

Twenty-three lines of text, written in Carolingian uncial, in double columns in red and dark brown ink. Pictured and described in Rendell, The Medieval World , 1979, item 11, likely rescued from a binding.

Italy, c. A.D. 1150-1200.

The thirteen-line historiated initial ''I'' contains a highly detailed full-length painting of Saint Cerbonius as a noble prelate wearing cope and chasuble over a long alb, and holding a crozier or Bishop’s staff. The portrait was added to the initial in the 14th century.

St. Cerbonius (6th century) arrived in northern Italy with St. Rugulus, as a refugee from the Vandals who had held North Africa since the time of Augustine. He became bishop of Piombina and survived an attempt made by Totila, King of the Ostrogoths, to have him martyred (the bear that was supposed to eat him, merely licked his feet). 

Shipped in archival 16x20'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-2716
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