Antwerpen, Rijksarchief, Verzameling Losse Aanwinsten, nr. 147.2

Jacob van Maerlant, Spiegel historiael (fragment)

The fragment is a remnant of a large manuscript containing the Spiegel historiael, a comprehensive rhymed world history based on the Speculum historiale written by the thirteenth-century Flemish poet Jacob van Maerlant and completed by Philip Utenbroeke and Lodewijk van Velthem. The Antwerp fragment is the only textual witness of the final part of the Second Partie of the Spiegel historiael. The manuscript to which the fragment belonged is one of the two only known manuscripts of the Spiegel historiael with a four-column layout, a layout that is very rare for Middle Dutch manuscripts. Another fragment from the same original manuscript is now kept at Leiden, University Library, Ltk. 177 (fragment-Serrure).

Manuscript description

Manuscript ID

mmfc-54374

Title

Jacob van Maerlant, Spiegel historiael (fragment)

Collection

Antwerpen, Rijksarchief

Shelfmark

Antwerpen, Rijksarchief, Verzameling Losse Aanwinsten, nr. 147.2

Former shelfmark

nr. 40

Manuscript Category

history

Document type

library book / reference book

Provenance

Owner
Jan Baptist Stockmans
Date
first half 20th century
Evidence type
Secondary source
Comments
Croenen 1992, p. 274-275

Acquisition

Part of Stockmans' collection was transferred to the State Archives at Antwerp in the early 1960s; a large part of his estate was already part of the collection.

References

Online catalogue record

State Archives in Belgium

Digital reproduction

Fragmentarium (digital reproduction)

IIIF Manifest

https://fragmentarium.ms/metadata/iiif/F-mwfz/manifest.json

Other online data sources

Fragmentarium
NaSo (manuscripts)
BNM-I (manuscripts)

Folder

UNIT ID

mmfc-54375

Leaf count

2 fol.

Remaining fragment

UNIT ID

mmfc-10354

Page range

fol. [1]-[2]

Form

Codex

Integrity

Fragment: The fragment consists of a part of the lower half of a bifolium, with c. 42 lines per column remaining (the bifolium was, roughly, cut in half horizontally). Fol. [2] has preserved its original width. Of fol. [1] only a strip remains, ca. 1/5th of the original page width. The fragment must have functioned as cover or a wrapper of a register with a stiff cover (identity unknown).

Fragments' earlier hosts

Presumably, the fragment functioned as a wrapper (host volume unknown).

Language

Middle Dutch (main)

Document type

library book / reference book

Notes

General
The fragment is a remnant of the same manuscript as Leiden, University Library, Ltk. 177 (fragment-Serrure).

Origin

Date
first half 14th century (Laurent Breeus-Loos)
Evidence
Script
Place
Brabant (possibly), Low Countries (Laurent Breeus-Loos)
Evidence
Language

Support

Material

Parchment

Number of leaves

2

Page dimensions

h: 263 mm x w: 340 mm (fol. [2]) , leaves trimmed

Layout

Section
(fol. [2]r)
Description
The fragment is a remnant of one of the two only known manuscripts of the Spiegel historiael with a four-column layout, a layout that is very rare for Middle Dutch manuscripts.
Columns
4
Layout formula
| T || T || T || T |
Ruling
Full ruling, Lead-point ruling
Prickings
prickings visible in outer margin
Intercolumnar space
10 mm

Writing

Script

Northern gothica textualis (Northern gothica textualis libraria)

Number of hands

1

Decoration

Type

pen-flourished initials, rubrics red, illuminated, ornamental initials, rubrics, plain initials

References

Other online data sources

Fragmentarium
BNM-I (manuscripts)

1. Jacob van Maerlant, Spiegel historiael

UNIT ID

mmfc-50905

Page range

fol. [1]r-[2]v

Title

Jacob van Maerlant, Spiegel historiael

Spiegel historiael

Contributors

Jacob van Maerlant (author)

Language

Middle Dutch (main)

Notes

Textual content
  • Fol. [1]r: Spiegel historiael, Second Partie, Book VII, chapter 12, vs. 129-166 (ed. De Vries & Verwijs 1863).
  • Fol. [1]v: Spiegel historiael, Second Partie, Book VII, chapter 17, vs. 112 - chapter 18, vs. 19 (ed. De Vries & Verwijs 1863).
  • Fol. [2]: Spiegel historiael, Second Partie, Book VII, final verses of chapter 17 (ed. Croenen 1992).
De Vries, M., and E. Verwijs, eds., Jacob van Maerlant’s Spiegel historiael met de fragmenten der later toegevoegde gedeelten, bewerkt door Philip Utenbroeke en Lodewijc van Velthem, dl. 1 vols (E.J. Brill, Leiden, 1863).

Keywords

Genre

chronicle
Manuscript description
  1. Folder
    1. Remaining fragment
      1. 1. Jacob van Maerlant, Spiegel historiael