Foreign Literary Eazette

IN our last number we inserted an account of the MSS. found in an Ancient

taken by Theodosius in Arts and letters, and consequently in books beautifully writ ten, that this John had attained his distinction by his merit, as chief and head of the Calligraphs, or writers of beautiful characters?

In Egypt, under the Ptolemys who ex

Library at Herculaneum: --from that ar-erted themselves with great liberality to

ticle our readers would form some notion of the manner of keeping books, anciently, in rolls or volumes. Those MSS. are written on Papyrus. But, beside those Rolls, other books were made up in a square form; and we are not always to imagine a roll, when we read of a book, in ancient writers. The present article continues the subject; it is taken from the elaborate work of M. Seroux d'Agincourt, intitled "Histoire des Arts par les Monumens." The researches of that diligent antiquary begin at the fourth century; but he occasionally alludes to earlier

riods.

drian library, honours and rewards were augment the literary riches of the Alexandecreed to writers who obtained the prize of Calligraphy. (Virtruv. lib. viii. pref.) Augustus had attached to his library, which was united to the temple of Apollo, on the Palatine Mount, a number of his slaves, and of his freedmen, as writers, or scribes.

The frequent and attentive inspection of Manuscripts such as are come down to us, the talents and character of those who enables us to form into several distinctions were employed in transcribing them.

1. The first class of these were simple writers, whose talents were confined, mostly pe-ble character; or to write correctly, whe if not generally, to the formation of a legither from a copy already written, or from words repeated to them.

Among other subjects he has paid attention to the mechanical making of books: the following are abstracts from his observations. We believe we may venture to say, that he had himself examined almost

all the documents he refers to.

ON THE WRITING, CORRECTING,

AND

COMBINING OF
BOOKS

IN ANTIENT TIMES.

2. A second and superior class was able to ornament their writings with large and elegant letters, fancifully, and highly decoraheightened with gold and silver: these took ted: glowing with the richest colours, and the title of Calligraphs, to which they sometimes added that of Chrysographs.

3. When to the talents, which verged on those belonging to the Art of the Painter, they united that of drawing, or even of colouring designs already drawn, if not of historical subjects, at least of certain fi. gures, most commonly, birds, animals, or foliage; their labour was more respected, and their salary was more considerable.

4. The highest rauk consisted of those

It is well known that among the Greeks, and Romans, in whose polity every class of magistrates had its proper officers, the Scars, or public writers, formed a Col-who being painters and writers in the same lege, divided into several classes: we learn this from inscriptions on various monuments of antiquity: but whether professors of the art of beautiful writing, or those engaged in the transcription of books, were a class of that college, does not certainly

appear.

History mentions a certain JoHN, who is celebrated in the reign of Theodosius the younger, for his rashuess, and for his sufferings, by which he was for ever deprived of the purple. If the title of Prineeps Scribarum, which he assumed, may be allowed an extent of signification beyond that of marking him as first secretary to the Emperor, may it be supposed, that in conformity with the extreme delight

Vot. III. No. 16. Lit. Pun. N. S. Jun. 1.

persons, were capable of ornamenting their tious; nevertheless, there always were above own fine writing by picturesque composioccasionally exercised their art in adorning these, certain painters by profession, who the text, or chapters, &c. of a book, with pictures. The names of a few of these are come down to us; but their principal works are perished.

Without going so far back as those who | were charged with this duty on behalf of the famous Alexandrian library, and with-out recalling to memory the occupation of Alexander, in revising the works of Homer, if with Madame Dacier, we put confidence in Strabo (lib. iii.) we shall adduce the instance of Cicero correcting a manuscript copy of Lucretius; and Valerius Probus, Aulus Gellius, and Lampridius, employed in revising various volumes.

No less than a person of the Consular Order had revised that Manuscript of Virgil, which is the most authentic, and one of the most antient of those which are come down to us, (in the Vatican.)

In the sixth century, another Consul, and a Questor, are known to have employed theniselves in the same studies. (Gori, Diptych. tom 1. p. 305.)

Calligraphs, or professional writers, were accustomed to offer their works to the Gods, to Princes, to Mecenas's, to promoters of the Sciences and Belles Lettres, or in more simple style, to their friends Many of the MSS. of the lower ages contain paintings which are demonstrative of this practice.

FIGURES OF Persons in the ACT OF COM

POSING, OR OF COPYING MSS.

This is a frequent ornament, placed usually frouting the title of a book: in like

manner as the more ancient scribes were accustomed to place their figures. The attitudes of these writers are greatly vaned; so are their utensils. The existing copies prove that this custom continued to the revival of the Arts. The figures that claim this distinction in the first place arc, cerWhen, intent on dissipating the shades of works, and these are always represented faiuly, the authors, or original composers of ignorance, which covered the seventh aud eighth centuries, Charlemagne la-rides, Seneca, Aristotle, and others. But, in the act of writing. So we have Dioscoboured so zealously in erecting schools, whether we have any such figures of simple end in patronizing the art of fine writing, copyists or Calligraphs, does not appear a famous Scribe called BERTRANDUS, is equally certain: Montfaucon has not cited distinguised as Scriptor Regius, Writer to the King: that Great Sovereign himself, MS. of Aristotle is thus adorned. any; yet it is thought that an ancient also, give an example, by employing his leisure in transcribing, or at least in retising, the sacred books. The valuable and beautiful manuscripts still remaining, are evidence of this; and effectually confute the opinion of those who have venfured to afirm in that he knew not how to write. (Lambecius Biblioth. Vindob. lib. viii. p. 645.)

NAMES

OF THE CALLIGRAPHS:

and notes concerning them. Montfaucon has bestowed particular attention on this branch of Calligraphy: on account of the light it throws on the time when the authors lived, ou the date of the composition, or of the copy of their works, on the different proprietors of MSS. and Charles the Bald imitated his grand-even on historical events and singular cusfather: and we know, that in later ages toms. His labours embraced the Paleograthe revision and transcribing of MSS. was phy of the Greeks. the employment of ecclesiastics. This appears from the subscriptions annexed to many of them, especially to the more beautiful: the following instances attest this, in the most convincing manner.

What the Latin writers furnish is less interesting, yet not without its recommendation. They sometimes marked merely their name and station; as Ego Norbertus scripsi Acolythus.-Rahingus Monachus, ex From the fifth century the duty of copy-Flaviniano Monaster. &c.. Hunc librua ing books, under the direction of their su- Ambrusio Ven. ep. scrib. jussit. In the thir periors, was enjoined on the Monks, espe-teenth century these inscriptions were no cially on those who had much leisure, and longer restricted to simple names. A MS. were yet in the prime of life. Writing of Lucan is marked by this verse at the was not in general and popular use. Low-end: ever, the writers by profession, catted Calligraphs were at the service of the public. Their denomination did not so much arise from the beauty of their writing, though that was implied in their appellation; as from their practice of their occupation as an art. This may be taken as a general description of those about the 8th century. DEDICATIONS OF WORKS, AND PRESEN TATIONS OF MSS.

Following the example of authors, the

Explicet expliceat, ludere scriptor eat.

Another MS. of Horace, has

Qui scripsit hos versus, cùm Diabolo sit diversus !

in Italy, called themselves, Scriptores liIn the thirteenth century, the scribes, of letters was now almost wholly confined brorum, or Exemplatores. The cultivation to ecclesiastics, and monks: to these we are beholden for whatever correct MSS.

Anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi MDLXX. Indizione III, XVII Kal. Octobris, epletum et ab Isidoro hoc opus, in Padua, feliciter Gerardo præsidente, et Wifredo Archipresbytero, cum XXVIII cànonicis comin: rante. Si vis scripturas quis fecit scire, figuras Isidorus finxit, Doctor Bonus aurea pinxie.notes of the same kind at the end, and

Pro pœnú scriptori detur pulchra puella taste of persons to whom the books beOn the revival of letters, the importance of obtaining correct manuscripts was strongly felt by the literati: the most eminent men, following the examples of the diguified in autiquity, willingly undertook to revise

Calligraphs, or professional writers, were accustomed to offer their works to the Gods, to Princes, to Mecenas's, to promoters of the Sciences and Belles Lettres, or in more simple style, to their friends Many of the MSS. of the lower ages con

Without going so far back as those who | were charged with this duty on behalf of -the famous Alexandrian library, and without recalling to memory the occupation of Alexander, in revising the works of Homer, if with Madame Dacier, we put confidence in Strabo (lib. iii.) we shall ad-tain paintings which are demonstrative of duce the instance of Cicero correcting a this practice. manuscript copy of Lucretius; and Valerius Probus, Aulus Gellius, and Lampridias, employed in revising various volumes. No less than a persoa of the Consular

Order had revised that Manuscript of Virgil, which is the most authentic, and one of the most antient of those which are come down to us, (in the Vatican.)

In the sixth century, another Consul, and a Questor, are known to have employed theniselves in the same studies. (Gori, Diptych. tom 1. p. 305.)

FIGURES OF PERSONS IN THE ACT OF COM

POSING, OR OF COPYING MSS.

This is a frequent ornament, placed usually frouting the title of a book: in like

manner as the more ancient scribes were
accustomed to place their figures. The
attitudes of these writers are greatly varied;
so are their utensils. The existing copies
revival of the Arts. The figures that claim
prove that this custom continued to the
this distinction in the first place arc, cer-
faiuly, the authors, or original composers
of works, aud these are always represented
in the act of writing. So we have Diosco-

whether we have any such figures of simple
copyists or Calligraphs, does not appear
equally certain: Montfaucon has not cited
MS. of Aristotle is thus adorned.
any; yet it is thought that an ancient

When, intent on dissipating the shades of ignorance, which covered the seventh aud eighth centuries, Charlemagne la-rides, Seneca, Aristotle, and others. But, boured so zealously in erecting schools, end in patronizing the art of fine writing, a famous Scribe called BERTRANDUS, is distinguised as Scriptor Regius, Writer to the King: that Great Sovereign himself, also, give an example, by employing his leisure in transcribing, or at least in retising, the sacred books. The valuable and beautiful manuscripts still remaining, are evidence of this; and effectually coufute the opinion of those who have ventured to affirm in that he knew not how to write. (Lambecius Biblioth. Vindob. lib. viii. p. 645.)

NAMES OF THE

CALLIGRAPHS:

and notes concerning them. Montfaucon has bestowed particular attention on this branch of Calligraphy: on account of the light it throws on the time when the authors lived, ou the date of the composition, or of the copy of their works, on the different proprietors of MSS. and Charles the Bald imitated his grand-even on historical events and singular cusfather: and we know, that in later ages toms. His labours embraced the Paleograthe revision and transcribing of MSS. was phy of the Greeks. the employment of ecclesiastics. This appears from the subscriptions annexed to many of them, especially to the more beautiful: the following instances attest this, in the most convincing manner.

From the fifth century the duty of copying books, under the direction of their superiors, was enjoined on the Monks, especially on those who had much leisure, and were yet in the prime of life. Writing was not in general and popular use. How ever, the writers by profession, catted Calligraphs were at the service of the public. Their denomination did not so much arise from the beauty of their writing, though that was implied in their appellation; as from their practice of their occupation as an art. This may be taken as a general description of those about the 8th century. DEDICATIONS OF WORKS, AND PRESEN TATIONS OF MSS.

Following the example of authors, the

What the Latin writers furnish is less interesting, yet not without its recommendation. They sometimes marked merely their name and station; as Ego Norbertus scripsi Acolythus.-Rahingus Monachus, ex Flaviniano Monaster. &c. Hunc librum Ambrusio Ven. ep. scrib. jussit. In the thirteenth century these inscriptions were no longer restricted to simple names. A MS. of Lucan is marked by this verse at the end:

1

Explicet expliceat, ludere scriptor eat. Another MS. of Horace, has

Qui scripsit hos versus, cùm Diabolo sit diversus !

in Italy, called themselves, Scriptores liIn the thirteenth century, the scribes, brorum, or Exemplatores. The cultivation of letters was now almost wholly confined to ecclesiastics, and monks: to these we are beholden for whatever correct MSS.

Stabat M et duo CC, semel L, currente tained; but usually confiding one writ

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