Liber mayor P[ri]sciani de ordinatio[n]e partiu[m] oratio[n]is.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Priscian, active approximately 500-530.

Standardized Title:

Institutio de arte grammaticae

Language:

Latin

Subjects (All):

Latin language--Grammar--Early works to 1500.

Latin language.

Latin language--Grammar.

Latin language--Syntax--Early works to 1800.

Latin language--Metrics and rhythmics--Early works to 1800.

Latin language--Metrics and rhythmics.

Latin language--Study and teaching--Early works to 1800.

Latin language--Study and teaching.

Latin language--Syntax.

Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)

annotations

grammars (instructional materials)

Manuscripts, Latin.

Manuscripts, Medieval.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by the monastery of Santa Maria de Carreto, 15th century (f. 53v).

Sold at auction at Hoepli, 21 May 1931, lot 75.

Sold by Laurence Witten (New Haven), 1965.

Physical Description:

53 leaves : parchment ; 250 x 195 (129 x 97) mm bound to 262 x 195 mm

Other Title:

De constructione.

Place of Publication:

[Paris?], [between 1250 and 1299]

Language Note:

Latin.

Summary:

Books 17 and 18 of Priscian's Institutiones grammaticae, also known as De constructione, a guide to syntax. The Institutiones are a systematic examination and explanation of Latin grammar and were a staple of the medieval study of Latin. The text contains extensive interlinear and marginal annotations in Latin in a secretary script. Text at the end of the manuscript (f. 53v), seemingly not by Priscian, discusses Adonic meter.

Notes:

Ms. codex.

Title from caption title (f. 1r).

Foliation: Parchment, i (modern paper) + 53 + i (modern paper); i-liii; contemporary foliation in Roman numerals in ink, upper right recto.

Layout: Written in 2 columns of 31 lines; frame-ruled in lead, with main text written on alternate lines in text block and annotations, when present, written on every line in margins (for example, f. 51v).

Script: Written in a Gothic script, with annotations in a secretary script.

Decoration: Initials of 2-5 lines in blue and red ink; paragraph markers alternating in red or blue ink; chapter headings in margins in red ink; sketches in ink of a man (f. 14r), tree (f. 22r), and stag (f. 24r); manicules, some with decorated cuffs (f. 20v, 22v, 24r, 24v, 26v, 31r, 37r).

Binding: 18th-century half vellum.

Origin: Probably written in Paris, late 13th century (Zacour-Hirsch).

Cited in:

Described in Zacour, Norman P. and Hirsch, Rudolf. Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Libraries of the University of Pennsylvania to 1800, Supplement A (1). The Library Chronicle 35 (1969), p. 6 (Ms. Latin 206).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Codex 1243.

OCLC:

238756314

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.