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

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students will know the basics of History of Manuscript Book produced in the various social and cultural contexts of the Latin Western World, from Antiquity until the invention of printing; they will also know the different forms, functions, craftmanships and production techniques of the manuscript book. Furthermore they will be able to place the most representative manuscripts in their chronological and geographical contexts of use and preservation. They will describe manuscripts from the Western area using the specialized wording and essential rules of Codicology, also in relation to currently standards of manuscripts 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, the printed book

- 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 and MDI) and the most important digital library of manuscripts.

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS PROGRAM

1. M. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all’e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, pp. 7-160.
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. Cursi, Le forme del libro. Dalla tavoletta cerata all’e-book, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016, pp. 7-160.
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.

TWO 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 (secc. XIII-XIV), 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, Del rotolo, del codice e di altri aspetti della cultura scritta antica e medievale, in La forma del libro, dal rotolo al codice secoli III a. C. - XIX d. C., a cura di F. Arduini, Firenze 2008, pp. 9-24

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

- P. Canart, Consigli fraterni a giovani catalogatori di libri manoscritti, in ««Gazette du livre médiéval», 50(2007), pp. 1-13.

- 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.

Teaching methods

Lectures will be accompanied by practical exercises in the description of the manuscript book. If the health conditions allow it, a guided tour is planned at the University Library of Bologna. The lessons will take place starting from September 21st and until October 21st.

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

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The final exam consists of two parts:

1) During the FIRST part, students will have to produce one or two 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 two 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.

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.

Office hours

See the website of Annafelicia Zuffrano