05-01-2018, 09:18 AM
The topic of Florence MS Pat. 586 came up in parallel in cipher mysteries and here - no coincidence I am sure.
The language of the MS has been the topic of several scholarly publications, which also deal with several other key questions related to it, such as the number of different contributors, the order of its creation and the style of the illustrations.
These have been summarised in one of the more recent publications, namely:
Matteo Milani (2004): "Aloes es caut e sec": edizione di un erbario occitano, (Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Palatino 586), La parola del testo, 2, VIII, p.369-391.
The various authors do not seem to agree whether there are one or two different illustrators. It seems clear that the work was interrupted for a longer time, and picked up again later, possibly (but not certainly) by another illustrator.
Marco already pointed out the parallel with Egerton 747, and Pal.586 derives directly from it. It is believed that Egerton 747 was already in France from an early stage in its history.
Despite the title of the article, the language is not positively identified as Occitan. In fact, different parts appear to be in different varieties of French provencal, including Occitan, and there are Latin elements too.
It is ascribed to the 'larger area of the Provence', with a suggestion to the bordering area of the langue d'oc and langue d'öil (Auvergne - Limousin).
With respect to the marginal illustrations, it is stated that "many of the figures and grotesques are allusions [...] to the common name or use of the plant in question". Here Milani is quoting Minta Collins.
The language of the MS has been the topic of several scholarly publications, which also deal with several other key questions related to it, such as the number of different contributors, the order of its creation and the style of the illustrations.
These have been summarised in one of the more recent publications, namely:
Matteo Milani (2004): "Aloes es caut e sec": edizione di un erbario occitano, (Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Palatino 586), La parola del testo, 2, VIII, p.369-391.
The various authors do not seem to agree whether there are one or two different illustrators. It seems clear that the work was interrupted for a longer time, and picked up again later, possibly (but not certainly) by another illustrator.
Marco already pointed out the parallel with Egerton 747, and Pal.586 derives directly from it. It is believed that Egerton 747 was already in France from an early stage in its history.
Despite the title of the article, the language is not positively identified as Occitan. In fact, different parts appear to be in different varieties of French provencal, including Occitan, and there are Latin elements too.
It is ascribed to the 'larger area of the Provence', with a suggestion to the bordering area of the langue d'oc and langue d'öil (Auvergne - Limousin).
With respect to the marginal illustrations, it is stated that "many of the figures and grotesques are allusions [...] to the common name or use of the plant in question". Here Milani is quoting Minta Collins.