Genelogies of the Erles of Lecestre and Chester, 16th Century

Miniature of two knights bearing shields with the emblems of Leicester and Chester

This is the shortest codex at facsimilium, so far: only 20 leaves with the genealogy of Robert Dudley -Earl of Leicester- tracing his descent from the Earls of Leicester and Chester, beginning with individuals of the 11th and 12th centuries, and providing the heraldic devices of the principal members of these families.

About Robert Dudley, was an English nobleman and favourite of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death: On 18 November 1558, the morning after Elizabeth's accession, he witnessed the surrender of the Great Seal to her at Hatfield and became Master of the Horse on the same day (an important court position entailing close attendance on the sovereign).

Codex, (layout, script and binding details below), best leaves:

Robert Dudley is mentioned in the introduction but does not appear within the genealogy tree, as noted in a late 16th- or early 17th-century hand note (right side)

Related references/details about the codex:

1. McGeoch, Barbara. A study of a genealogical manuscript of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. MA thesis, City University of New York, 1974. Link to book (google books) here
2. Provenance (source::University of Pennsylvania as they host a digitized copy of the codex) as follows, Sold to H. P. Kraus by a London book dealer before 1964; consigned by Kraus to Sotheby's, 1964 (unable to check on sotheby's webpage). Sold to Madeleine Pelner Cosman by Sotheby's, 1964. Finally, was sold by Les Enluminures (Paris and Chicago), 2007. Les enluminures web page doesn't have a search engine, couldn't make further investigations here...
3. Codex physical description (same source Penn Univ): 20 .aper leaves; 219 x 165 mm. bound to 223 x 170 mm. Layout: Written in 25 long lines, ruled in lead; double vertical and single horizontal bounding lines in pale red ink. Script: Written in a hybrid secretary bookhand. Binding: Contemporary stiff vellum with five cords sewn through and visible on spine and one cord now gone at tail of spine; holes for two missing ties on fore-edge of covers.

"Civil Architecture" by Eduard Mezger; 19th Century

Missing Architecture at facsimilium? At least I really was... This amazing collection of civil architecture sketches were drawn by Friedrich Eduard Mezger (1807–1894) a German Architect, Professor and civil Officer of the Royal buildings administration. Mezger studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich (direct link to the academy as it is today founded in 1948, but this Bavarian Academy of fine Arts can be considered as the revival of the "original" Royal Academy, established in 1808). During this period at the academy, Mezger took part in some monumental works in Athens, Greece; promoted by the Academy. After his return in 1833 from Greece, He became professor in civil engineering at the Technical University of Munich (link here to the TUM as it is today), and then in 1846 became "Oberbaurat", that can be literally understood as "Top Architect Officer".

Apart of his sketches, Mezger's collection of aquarelles really impressed me first time I saw it. Following my investigation, I could find that some of them were auctioned by Sotheby's in May 2004, with an average price of around 5.000 EUR (6.500 USD)... fair isn't it? More info see Arcadja web page, link here. Type "Eduard Mezger" on search by artist window (3 results). I couldn't obtain same results by a direct search on Sotheby's (¿?).

For a high resolution, pdf version of this manuscript, contact me (facsimilium AT gmail DOT com).

Amazing aquarelle, see left hand side light entry effect, mixed with colour -turquoise- intensity on top..

Audubon's “Birds of America” (19th Century)

Blue jay specimen, eating other birds' eggs

John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a French-American naturist who developed a particular -and questionable, at least under my point of view- method for representing birds with extremely detailed illustrations in their natural habitats. This particular method consisted in killing the birds first with a very fine shot, using a special rifle to avoid damage the bodies. After that, he used wires and rigid metal bars to accommodate the bird in a natural position. This was a meticulous work: for a major specimen like an eagle, he would spend up to four 15-hour days, preparing, studying, and drawing it. His paintings of birds are set true-to-life in their natural habitat. He often portrayed them as if caught in motion, especially feeding or hunting. With the edition of his "Birds of America", published in 1842, he earned more than 30.000 dollars and around 1000 subscribers. With this money he bought an estate on the Hudson river, and for nearly 60 years a tract of land in upper Manhattan was known as Audubon Park...

Google Doodle published on google.com on April 26th this year to celebrate J.J. Audubon 226th birthday

Audubon soon reached a high popularity: King George IV was an avid fan of Audubon's pictures. Was ellected as fellow by the London's Royal Society -second north american at Royal Society after Benjamin Franklin-. Charles Darwin quoted Audubon in his "On the Origin of Species". And continues in our days: last December 2010, a copy of "Birds of America" was sold at a Sotheby's auction for $11.5 million. On 26 April this year, Google celebrated his 226th birthday by displaying a special Google Doodle dedicated to J.J. Audubon.

J.J. Audubon with his special rifle, painting by John Syme

Yellow crowned night heron and little blue heron. This painting now hangs in the US White House.

Rough legged hawk

White pelican

Snowy owl