ID: 700008762 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700008762	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Liber Alchandrei philosophi (illuminated manuscript; Virgil Master (French, active about 1380 - 1420); around 1405; J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, Calif...; 2003.25; Ms. 72)

Note: 117 folios + 2 flyleaves, 1 half-page miniature, 2 one-column miniatures, 3 decorated borders, numerous charts, diagrams, and graphs. This manuscript begins with a text by the astronomer Alchandreus, a somewhat mysterious figure who was active sometime before the 900s. He wrote on such topics as the movement of the planets, the signs of the zodiac, and the art of predicting the future. Alchandreus consulted Arabic sources for his writings, and also cited Alexander the Great as an authority on various subjects. The second part of this manuscript contains Boethius's (480-525) texts on mathematics and music, of which few manuscript copies survive. All the texts appear in Latin, the scholastic language of the Middle Ages (the title in Latin is Liber Alchandrei philosophi). Three miniatures painted by the Virgil Master appear in this manuscript, along with numerous charts and diagrams that illustrate points in the text. Although members of the European courts often commissioned scientific treatises, high-quality illuminated copies like this example are rare. Like other International style artists, the Virgil Master incorporated many elements of courtly life into his miniatures, such as elaborate costume and structures modeled after castle architecture. The artist worked at the court of Jean, duc de Berry, and this manuscript was most likely commissioned by one of the duke's high-ranking officials.

Titles:

Liber Alchandrei philosophi (preferred,C,U,RP,English,U,U,Latin,U,U)

Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus (C,U,DE,English,U,U)

Ms. 72 (C,U,MD,undetermined,U,U)

Catalog Level: volume

Work Types:

illuminated manuscript [300265483] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), document genres, <documents by conditions of production>, manuscripts (documents))

miscellany [300404026]

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), document genres, <documents by conditions of production>)

book [300028051]

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Information Forms (hierarchy name), information forms (objects), information artifacts, <information artifacts by physical form>)

Classifications:

manuscripts (preferred)

Creation Date: around 1405

Creator Display:

Virgil Master (French, active about 1380 - 1420) [preferred,VP]

Virgil Master (French illuminator, active 1390-1420) [500053506]

Locations:

Current: J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, California, United States) [500115988] J. Paul Getty Trust, Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 2003.25; Ms. 72

Other: Creation: Paris [7008038] Île-de-France (region (administrative division)), France (nation), Europe (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Display Materials: Tempera colors, gold paint, gold leaf, and ink on parchment in a 16th-century doeskin binding, restored and rebacked in 1946.

	tempera [300015062]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>, paint (coating), <paint by composition or origin>, water-base paint)

	gilt paint [300343596]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>, paint (coating), <paint by composition or origin>, metallic paint)

	gold leaf [300264831]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, metal, <metal by form>, leaf (metal))

	ink [300015012]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>)

	parchment (animal material) [300011851]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, animal material, processed animal material)

	doeskin (leather) [300263569]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, animal material, processed animal material, leather, <leather by origin>)

Dimensions: Leaf: 39 x 30.5 cm (15 3/8 x 12 in.)

General Subject:

literary (preferred)

science

Specific Subjects:

	treatises [300026681]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), <concepts in the arts and humanities>, <genres in literature and performing arts>, <genres for literature>) (AAT)

	Alchandreus (philosopher, before 10th century) [500355306]
	.....(Non-Artists) (ULAN)

	De Arithmetica [901000940]
	.....((Literary works: Scientific, Instructional, Encyclopedia, Named written and performed works, Literature and Performing Arts)) (ICON)

	De Musica [901000941]
	.....((Literary works: Scientific, Instructional, Encyclopedia, Named written and performed works, Literature and Performing Arts)) (ICON)

	Latin (language) [300388693]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), language-related concepts, <languages and writing systems>, <languages and writing systems by specific type>, <temporary alphabetical list: languages and writing systems>) (AAT)

Inscriptions: An inscription on folio 1 begins "Ex bibliotheca" and ends "-iensum," but the remainder has been cancelled.

Marks: The book stamp of Sir Thomas Phillipps appears on the front flyleaf.

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: drawings, paintings, prints, other two-dimensional media

Sources and Contributors:
Liber Alchandrei philosophi	........ [VP,JPGM]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)
Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)
Ms. 72	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP,JPGM]
	..... J. Paul Getty Museum database for collections (2000-)