Harley MS 6324

Contents:

ff. 1r-68v: Alanus de Insulis (attributed), Commentary on Pseudo-Cicero's Rhetorica ad Herennium.

f. 1r: Notarial inscription.

f. 68v: Added inscription regarding the purchase of the manuscript written by Sozomeno (b. 1387 at Pistoia, d. 1458), who studied at the University of Padua in 1407-13 and belonged to the Poggio group of humanists at Florence, where he held the chair of Poetry and Rhetoric: 'Questo libro comperai da piero bettuci cartolaio a. d. 24 di novembre 1431 lire dodici & soldi sei per suo guadangno come a parisce del pagamento fatto per me sozomeno allibro memoriale suo segnato d. a. carte 59. Et presente messer Tomaso de ?P Jacobo Salvetti advocato & doctore dilegge fiorentino', and his ownership inscription in Greek, together with a notarial inscription.

Decoration:

9 marginal drawings in metal point: head of a man with pointing hand (f. 10v), medallion with two figures conversing (f. 13r), two bust-length hooded figures addressing a third figure with ermine collar (f. 21r), a man playing the bagpipes (f. 27r), a bird biting its tail (f. 33r), a man pointing (f. 40v), a man resting on a staff (f. 41r), a centaur-like hybrid creature (f. 43r), a figure aiming with a bow and arrow (f. 47r). Historiated initial in colours with a man with shield and spear combined with a full foliate border with acanthus leaves, grotesques and a youth playing music on a viola (f. 1r). Historiated puzzle initial in colours with a man with an ermine collar (f. 54v), empty puzzle initial (unfinished; f. 64v).

Puzzle initial in red and blue with acanthus leaves in pink, green, blue and red (f. 25r), smaller initial with acanthus leaf (f. 46v). Puzzle initials with decoration in red, blue and green (ff. 3r, 40r). Small initials in blue or red with penwork decoration in the other colour. Capitals marked in red. Paraphs in red or blue. Catchwords with penwork decoration in brown ink (e.g, f. 16v (with a bird)).