The Book of the Duke of True Lovers

The Book of the Duke of True Lovers

The title on the reverse of this page, engraved upon the wood, was designed by Miss Blanche C. Hunter, and embodies the only authentic portrait of Christine De Pisan, engaged in writing, from the MS. now in the Bibliothque Royale, Brussels. The MS. in the Bibliothque Nationale forms one of the treasures of the famous collection of MSS. made by Jean, Duc de Berry, the Mecnas of illuminated MSS. At his death it passed into the possession of his daughter Marie, who, by marriage, had become Duchesse de Bourbon. When, in the reign of Franois I., the Conntable de Bourbon, to whom it had descended, was disgraced, the king seized his books and MSS., and carried them off to Fontainebleau, well pleased to add by any means, righteous or unrighteous, to the treasures of the royal library. Here this MS. and others remained until the reign of Charles IX., when they were removed to Paris, and placed in the Bibliothque du Roi, now the world-famous Bibliothque Nationale. The MS. in the British Museum has also had an interesting and chequered career. It was originally presented by Christine de Pisan to Isabelle of Bavaria, the queen of Charles VI. of France, whose books and MSS. were, in 1425, acquired by John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France. It is more than probable that this MS. was amongst these and was brought to England, for the various signatures on the enclosing parchment would certainly seem to indicate that this was the case. Late in the fifteenth century the MS. was sold to one of the most celebrated bibliophiles of the day, Louis of Bruges. After this, there is a blank in its history, until, in the seventeenth century, we find it once more in England, in the possession of Henry, Duke of Newcastle, whose grand-daughter married Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford, the founder of the splendid collection of MSS. and books purchased in 1754 for the British Museum, and now known as the Harleian Collection. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 36737
Author: Christine, de Pisan
Release Date: Jul 14, 2011
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Kemp-Welch, Alice

Translator: Binyon, Laurence, 1869-1943, Maclagan, Eric Robert Dalrymple, 1879-1951