Add MS 24025

Content:

Peter of Poitiers, Compendium historiae in Genealogica Christi, a biblical chronicle in roll form consisting of a series of roundels accompanied by brief biographical entries, with the heading 'Tabula Hist', and (along the upper edge of membrane 1) a faded inscription in red ink, 'Assit principio - sancta maria meo'.

Membranes 1-5: The genealogy of Christ beginning with Adam and Eve is depicted in the central line, with series of contemporary historical figures, including Roman emperors and kings of Israel, on either side. The material is arranged in six historical periods corresponding to the traditional six ages of the world inaugurated by Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Zedekiah and the birth of Christ. The contents and layout are the same in Add MS 14819, which is believed to have been copied from this manuscript (see Monroe, 'A Roll-Manuscript' (1978), n. 25).

The text begins, 'Considerans historiae prolixitatem necnon difficultate[m] scolariu[m]', explaining that the diagrammatic chronicle is designed to help students memorise complex biblical material. There are rubricated references to the Bible and to Peter Comestor, Historia scholastica.

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

Decoration:

A panel with foliate decoration incorporating five roundels depicting scenes from Genesis in red, blue and pink (membrane 1). A genealogical diagram beginning with a framed miniature, followed by a central line of 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, joined by lines of descent with a chevron pattern in red and blue. Architectural and a circular diagrams in colours. Series of roundels on either side of the central line, each containing a drawing of the head of a historical or biblical figure with a name written above in brown ink on a coloured ground and joined by lines of descent in red or black. Initials in alternating red or blue, many with pen-flourishing in the other colour. Rubrics and some titles in red. Paraph marks in red and blue.

The subjects of the images and diagrams are as follows

Membrane 1:

Central roundels of the ancestors of Christ from Seth to Ragau:

5 roundels depicting 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 cross-sections of Noah's Ark, based on Augustine, Isidore of Seville and Cassiodorus.

Membrane 2:

Central roundels of the ancestors of Christ from Saruch (Serug) to Solomon;

An architectonic diagram of the 42 'Mansiones', or resting places 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 3:

Central roundels of the ancestors of Christ from Booz (Boaz) to Amasias (Amaziah);

Membrane 4:

Central roundels of the ancestors of Christ from Karias to Eleazar;

A circular diagram of Jerusalem;

Membrane 5:

Central roundels of the ancestors of Christ from Matthan to Joseph;

The Nativity with the Virgin lactans; Christ in Judgement, with a flag and bleeding heart.