5 - EIXIMENES (Francesc) (circa 1330–1409)

EIXIMENES (Francesc) (circa 1330–1409) The Book of Angels [Anonymous French translation from the Catalan] In French, illuminated manuscript on parchment France, Paris or eastern France?, circa 1460–1470, with additions in the 16th century (after 1536) With two miniatures attributable to the Master of Jacques de Luxembourg and a later addition by a Parisian artist (figure of the patron presented by Saint Francis). 186 ff., preceded by a parchment endleaf and followed by a parchment endleaf, complete [collation: i4, ii-xxiii8, xxiv6], very regular bastard script, text in two columns (table of contents, ff. 2–4) and in a single column (ff. 5–186), 36 lines per page, parchment ruled in pale red ink (text size: 140 x 85 mm), headings in red, small initials in burnished gold on blue and pink backgrounds with white highlights (2 lines high), large initials (5 lines high) in blue with white highlights on burnished gold backgrounds decorated with colored foliage and vine leaves (marking the major textual divisions and introducing the five treatises that make up the work), illuminated borders (ff. 2, 4, 19v, 35, 91, 144) on reserved backgrounds with a decoration of colored acanthus leaves, foliage, flowers, strawberries, small burnished gold discs, and a few zoomorphic creatures. 16th-century (1530s) brown calfskin binding, with gilded and blind-stamped fillets framing the covers; large rectangles formed by gilded and blind-stamped fillets, with motifs at the outer and inner corners consisting of small flowers, fleurs-de-lis, and rosettes; a central gilded lozenge-shaped fleur-de-lis; the gilded initials “FDC” in the central rectangle [François I of Cleves (1516–1562)]; a smooth spine divided into panels by gilded and hatched bands; small label with the call number “776” at the bottom of the spine (call number of Sir Thomas Philipps), gilt edges, small incisions for ribbons or fasteners (missing). Dimensions of the binding: 210 x 145 mm; dimensions of the leaves: 202 x 135 mm. One of the most important works on angelology, *The Book of Angels* by Francesc Eximenes is presented here in a French translation (the original was in Catalan). It was a highly popular work in the 15th century (more than twenty manuscripts in its original language (Catalan), two incunabula editions). Undoubtedly produced in the context of the new foundation of the Order of Saint Michael in 1469 by King Louis XI, this manuscript must have been copied and illuminated for a member of the House of Cleves as early as the 15th century. It was part of the collection of Francis II of Cleves, Duke of Nevers, who had his portrait added to a miniature along with his coat of arms surrounded by the collar of the Order of Saint Michael. The miniatures are attributable to the Master of Jacques of Luxembourg: it should be noted that members of the Luxembourg family were related by marriage to the House of Cleves. TEXT f. 1, Extensive bibliographic note on the manuscript (inaccuracies in dating; unidentified FDC number) (19th-century handwriting): “[...] A very beautiful manuscript on vellum from the early 15th century, that is, around 1408 or 1409...”. ff. 2–4, Table of contents for the volume. f. 4v, blank ruled leaf. ff. 5–186, Francesc Eiximenes, Book of the Holy Angels [French translation of *Llibre de natura angelical* or *Llibre dels angels*, original in Catalan], heading, Here follows the Book of Angels compiled by Brother François of the Order of Friars Minor at the request of Sir Pierre d’Artes, knight and former governor of the King of Aragon; incipit, “The nature of angels is so exalted…”; with the first treatise (ff. 5–19), “Here ends the first treatise of this present book”; second treatise (ff. 19–35), heading: “Here begins the second treatise of this present Book of Angels, which discusses their reverend order, containing seventeen chapters, the first of which shows how the angels are ordered into three hierarchies and nine orders”; third treatise (ff. 35–91), rubric: “Here begins the third treatise of this book on angels, which discusses the great diligence with which they strive to serve us faithfully”; fourth treatise (ff. 91–143v), rubric: Here begins the fourth treatise of this present book on angels, which discusses their fervent victory and contains 57 chapters; fifth treatise (ff. 143v–186), rubric: “Here follows the fifth and final treatise of this present book, the first chapter of which discusses the loftiness and nobility of Our Lord Saint Michael the Archangel”; fol. 186, Here ends the Book of the Holy Angels. Deo gracias. Francesc Eiximenes was a prominent figure in the mendicant orders, born in Girona around 1330. He joined the Franciscans at a young age, studied at Oxford and Paris, and earned a master’s degree in theology in Toulouse. As Bishop of Elne, he died in 1409. He wrote popular works for the laity, particularly *Lo crestià* (*The Christian*), which provided laypeople with elements of scholarly knowledge, his concern being the