Add MS 14819

Contents:

Peter of Poitiers (b. 1193, d. 1205), Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi, a biblical chronicle in roll form consisting of a series of roundels with names, accompanied by brief biographical entries. The genealogy of Christ from Adam and Eve is in the central line, with historical figures and dynasties, including Roman emperors and kings of Israel arranged in synchrony on either side. The prologue begins, 'Considerans historiae prolixitatem necnon difficultate[m] scolariu[m]', explaining that the diagramatic chronicle is designed to help students memorise complex biblical material. There are rubricated references to the Bible and to Peter Comestor, Historia scholastica.

The contents and layout are the same in Add MS 24025, which is believed to have the exemplar for this manuscript (see Monroe, 'A Roll-Manuscript' (1978), n. 25).

The dorse of the roll is blank (dorse abbreviated as d).

Decoration:

A panel with foliate decoration incorporating five roundels, each containing a miniature with a scene from Genesis in red, blue, green and pink (membrane 1). A genealogical diagram beginning with a framed miniature (membrane 1), followed by a central line of descent in pink and white, with roundels containing colour-wash drawings of busts of historical figures on coloured grounds, ending with two larger roundels enclosing quatrefoil frames with scenes from the life of Christ in red, blue, green and yellow (membrane 5). On either side of the central line are further series of roundels, each containing a drawing of a historical or biblical figure on a coloured ground with a name written above in brown ink and joined by lines of descent in red or black. Architectural and a circular diagrams in colours (membranes 1,2 and 4). Initials in red or blue with pen-flourishing in the other colour. Rubrics and some labels in red. An added figure and three shields of arms in the lower margin, painted in grey, black, blue and yellow (membrane 5).

The subjects of the miniatures and diagrams are:

Membrane 1: 5 roundels with the Creation of Eve, Noah loading animals into the ark, Abraham sacrificing Isaac, Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea, David being anointed by Samuel and crowned; a framed miniature of Adam toiling and Eve spinning; three diagrams of cross-sections of Noah's ark;

Membrane 2: An architectonic diagram of the 42 'Mansiones' of the Israelites in the desert above a circular diagram of the 12 tribes of Israel around the Tabernacle (right); two law tablets (left);

Membrane 4: A circular diagram of Jerusalem;

Membrane 5: The Nativity with the Virgin lactans; Christ in Judgement; a flag and a hell mouth with lamenting figures in chain mail beneath.