98849 - History of Manuscript Book (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will know the basics of the history of the manuscript book produced in the various social and cultural contexts of the Latin West, from antiquity until the invention of printing; they will also know the different forms, functions, craftsmanships and production techniques of the manuscript book. Furthermore they will be able to place the most representative manuscripts in their chronological and geographic contexts of use and preservation. They will describe manuscripts from the West using specialized wording and the essential rules of codicology, also in relation to current standards of cataloguing. Moreover they will apply the acquired know-how in order to address the issues related to the description of the manuscript and to understand and critically evaluate the cultural, social and economic dynamics related to the production and circulation of the book, from antiquity to the beginning of the modern age.

Course contents

During the lessons, the main stages in the history of the Latin area manuscript book will be discussed, from Roman antiquity to the spread of the press. Therefore, from a diachronic perspective, the following topics will be addressed:

- The forms: the tabula, the scroll, the codex

- Production techniques: the various types of support, the material organization of the contents, the decoration, the transcription of the texts, the binding.

In addition, issues related to the circulation, use and conservation of the manuscript book in the various eras will be addressed. Finally, part of the course will be dedicated to the field of cataloging, with special regard to the description rules currently in use in Italy (Manus Online , MDI, Codex) and the most important digital library of manuscripts.

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAM

1. M. Maniaci, Breve storia del libro manoscritto, Carocci 2023.
2. M. L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto da Oriente a Occidente: per una codicologia comparata, Roma, L'Erma di Bretschneider, 2009, only chapters X (La decorazione) and XI (La legatura).
3. Guida ad una descrizione uniforme dei manoscritti a al loro censimento, Roma 1990
4. Norme per la descrizione dei manoscritti, a cura di T. De Robertis, N. Giovè Marchioli, Firenze, SISMEL – Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2021

As an aid to the study of the terminology relating to the manuscript book, it is advisable to use the following book:

M. Maniaci, Terminologia del libro manoscritto, Roma, Istituto centrale per la patologia del libro, 1996.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAM

1. M. Maniaci, Breve storia del libro manoscritto, Carocci 2023.
2. M. L. Agati, Il libro manoscritto da Oriente a Occidente: per una codicologia comparata, Roma, L'Erma di Bretschneider, 2009 only chapters X (La decorazione) and XI (La legatura)

As an aid to the study of the terminology relating to the manuscript book, it is advisable to use the following book:

1. M. Maniaci, Terminologia del libro manoscritto, Roma, Istituto centrale per la patologia del libro, 1996.

THREE essays chosen from the following:

- M. Cursi, Scrivere, incidere, digitare, in Storia dell’italiano scritto. Pratiche di scrittura, a cura di G Antonelli, M. Motolese e G. Tomasin, Roma, Carocci, 2021, pp. 153-180.

- E. Ornato, Libri e colofoni: qualche considerazione, in «Gazette du livre médiéval», 42(2003), pp. 24-35. 

- M. Signorini, Aspetti codicologici e paleografici della produzione di manoscritti in lingua provenzale, in G. Lachin-F. Zambon, I trovatori nel Veneto e a Venezia. Atti del Convegno internazionale (Venezia – Fondazione Cini, 28-31 ottobre 2004), Padova, Antenore, 2008, pp. 279-303.

- G. Cavallo, Tra volume e codex. La lettura del mondo romano, in Storia della lettura, a cura di G. Cavallo e R. Chartier, Bari, Laterza, 1995, pp. 37-69. 

- M. Maniaci - G. Orofino, L'officina delle Bibbie atlantiche: artigiani, scribi, miniatori. Problemi ancora aperti, in Come nasce un manoscritto miniato. Scriptoria, tecniche, modelli e materiali, a cura di P. Flores D'Arcais, F. Crivello, Modena 2010, 197-212.

- M. Maniaci, Statistical codicology. Principles, Directions, Perspectives, in Trends in Statistical Codicology, ed. by M. Maniaci, De Gruyter 2022, pp. 1-32.

- P. Fioretti, Il libro nell'antichità greca e romana, in La biblioteca infinita. I luoghi del sapere nel mondo antico. Catalogo della Mostra (Roma, Colosseo, 14 marzo - 5 ottobre 2014), a cura di R. Meneghini e R. Rea, Milano 2014, pp. 41-60.

- A. Derolez, Masters and measures. A codicological approach to books of hours, in "Quaerendo", 33(2003), pp. 83-95.

- E. Caldelli, Quando il copista parla di sé: una testimonianza lucchese di fine Trecento, in Conoscere il manoscritto: esperienze, progetti, problemi. Dieci anni del progetto Codex in Toscana, Atti del convegno internazionale, Firenze 29-30 giugno 2006, a cura di M. Marchiaro, S. Zamponi, Firenze, SISMEL-Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2007, pp. 213-233.

- S. Ammirati, La fatica del lavoro di copia tra verità e fictio: una lettura del colofone del Pal. Lat. 195, in Doctissimus Antiquitati Perscrutatur. Studi latini in onore e di Mario de Nonno, a cura di P. D'Alessandro, A. Luceri, Roma 2024, pp. 334-343 (in abbinamento alla lettura del saggio, si consiglia di consultare la fotoriproduzione del codice) 

- I. Ceccherini, Codicologia dei manoscritti della prima età umanistica: i libri di Sozomeno da Pistoia, in Palaeography, Manuscript Illumination and Humanism in Renaissance Italy: Studies in Memory of A. C. de la Mare, R. D. Black, J. Kraye, L. Nuvoloni, London 2016, pp. 87-104.

Teaching methods

Lectures will be accompanied by practical exercises in the description of the manuscript book. Classes will be held from 18 September to 23 October. A guided tour and two lectures are scheduled at the University Library of Bologna on 16, 17 and 18 October and during class time. On 27 September, during class time, there will be a guided tour of the manuscript collection at the Museo Civico Medievale. 

It may be useful, although not essential, to have some basic notion of the Latin Paleography.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office  and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The final exam consists of two parts:

1) During the FIRST part, students will have to produce a scholarly descriptions of medieval manuscripts preserved in Bologna, the choice of which must be agreed with the teacher. For carrying out this test, the critical use of specific essays concerning cataloging is particularly suitable (points 3 and 4 of the Bibliography item). The scholarly descriptions must be sent to the teacher at least two weeks before the date on which the student chooses to take the exam.

2) The SECOND part consists of an oral exam during which the student will explain the criteria used for the preparation of scholarly descriptions. Upon completion of the exam, the student will be invited to answer one or more general questions regarding the history of the manuscript book in the Latin West.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Oral exam divided into two parts:

1) one or more general questions regarding the history of the manuscript book in the Latin West, based on the manuals (points 1 and 2 of the Bibliography item). The exam intends to evaluate the knowledge of the main stages in the history of the handwritten book and of the most relevant material aspects related to its production;

2) one or more particular questions on the three essays chosen by the student. Special attention will be paid to the critical and synthetic skills shown by the student in addressing the main issues and fundamental issues expressed within the proposed in-depth studies.

In both cases (attending and non-attending), the student's knowledge of the topics addressed, the critical approach to the contents and the use of specific technical language will be evaluated with marks of excellence. The mostly mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, the capacity for synthesis and analysis not articulated and / or a correct but not always appropriate language will lead to discrete evaluations; training gaps and / or inappropriate language will lead to grades that will not exceed the pass mark. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the bibliographic materials offered during the course can only be evaluated negatively.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

During the lessons, videos and explanatory images will be shown regarding the various stages of production of the book. The material shown during the lectures will be made available through Virtuale. Most of the texts in the examination syllabus have been uploaded in pdf format on Virtuale, the missing texts can be found in the trade and in branch libraries.

Office hours

See the website of Annafelicia Zuffrano