ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI
(b. 1452, Castelfiorentino, d. ca. 1525, Firenze)

De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii

1485-90
Manuscript (Lat. XIV. 35)
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice

This manuscript contains the encyclopedic work, De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii ("On the Marriage of Philology and Mercury") by Martianus Capella (active in 5th century), a native of North Africa and an advocate at Carthage whose prose and poetry introduction to the liberal arts was of immense cultural influence down to the late Middle Ages. It deals in depth with the seven liberal arts within the framework of the romantic story of the marriage of Philology and Mercury but has a profoundly didactic content.

The names of both the scribe and the illuminator of this fine Florentine copy of Martianus Capella are found in the manuscript. The scribe was Alessandro da Verrazzano who produced many manuscripts for illustrious patrons between 1477 and 1506. The illumination is by Attavante, an important figure in Florentine illumination of the late fifteenth century.

The present manuscript was made for the library of King Matthias of Hungary. It contains 24 miniatures, representing the Meetings of the Gods and the Arts of the Trivium and Quadrivium, as well as borders with floral motifs and decorated initials. The Arts are all depicted as enthroned female figures in the act of demonstrating or teaching the science they personify.

Folio 149v represents Music.