Bartholomaeus Brixiensis’ revised edition of the Glossa ordinaria on Gratian’s Decretum
Italy, mid-thirteenth century

Peterhouse, MS 11, f. 143v
Italy, thirteenth century
Vellum, 400 x 248 mm (340 x 230 mm), III + 318 ff.

This legal manuscript is a copy of a gloss on Gratian’s Decretum (the standard medieval work on canon law). Ironically, given the work’s legal content, a vandal has gone through the manuscript and cut out all of the decorated initials and illustrative miniatures originally contained therein. The vandal seems to have become more skilful (or more conscientious?) as he or she progressed through the book, increasingly managing to remove images without damaging the surrounding pages. Although the job was relatively systematic, two decorated initials do survive in the manuscript, both on pages from which other images have been removed. The manuscript was bequeathed to Peterhouse by William de Whittlesey, Master of the College (1349–1352) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1368–1374).

By permission of the Master and Fellows of Peterhouse, Cambridge.