"Calila and Dimna", or the Arabic translation of Panchatantra (14th Century)

This is an amazing (due to the large amount of richly illustrations, I counted more than 73 full -or almost- pages on a total of 268 vellum pages) Arabic copy of The Panchatantra, -The Five Principles-, an ancient Indian collection of animal fables in verse and prose. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century is attributed to Vishnu Sharma. It is based on older oral traditions, including "animal fables that are as old as we are able to imagine", and the Buddhist Jataka Tales.

As far as I could investigate, first arabic translation -8th Century- was issued by the Iranian (province of Fars) Ibn al-Muqaffa', a Persian Zoroastrian philosopher converted to Islam.

This codex was issued in Egypt during 14th Century and, as said before, really impress because of its large amount of richly colored illustrations. There’s also a latin translation of the Panchatantra -through the Arabic translation- ordered by Spanish King Alfonso X the wise, when he still was a Prince (as was crowned in 1252, that leads to set the date of composition in 1251 what would convert this other latin translation into the first prose-fiction work written in the Iberian Peninsula).

This first Latin translation in Spain was more oriented to prince's education through the eastern method of questions and answers between the king and a philosopher, but told by and featuring animals: an ox, an lion and two jackals called Calila and Dimna, which are who tell the majority of the tales. This structure is used later in Don Juan Manuel's Tales of Count Lucanor.

 

Related external links:

• Online english tranlation for Panchatantra, hosted by University of Chicago (translated by Arthur W. Ryder), links to books 1 to 5 here.
• Jataka Tales of the Buddha, retold by Ken & Visakha Kawasaki -not illustrated- link
• Encyclopaedia Britannica (topic Ibn al-Muqaffa' discussed & articles, with related images) here
• BIOs: Vishnu Sharma, Ibn al-Muqaffa', King Alfonso X the wise (links to wikipedia), provided.

The "Comic history of Rome", 19th Century

The "Comic History of Rome, from the founding of the city to the end of the commonwealth" was written by Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (1811 – 1856), an English humorist born in London and educated at Westminster School. Gilbert was an active journalist on The Times and The Morning Herald and contributed with series of light articles to The Illustrated London News that conducted in 1846 to The Almanack of the Month. He is perhaps best known as the author of Comic History of England and the Comic History of Rome.

(This edition -available on facsimilium collection- was printed by Bradbury, Evans and Co. -whitefriars, 11 Bouverie street-)

Romulus and Remus

This edition was illustrated (10 steel engravings and 100-odd wood engravings) by John Leech, and indefatigable worker, true humorist and student of human life. I found a complete collection of drawings from Mr Leech on wikimedia commons, regarding a different edition of this "Comic history of Rome", and posted some below (average resolution is good, with full res option 1,997 × 3,403 pxls). Mr Leech also supplied illustrations for a number of magazines and books, most notably the plates in 'A Christmas Carol' by Dickens.



The Mother of the Gracchi



Terrific Combat between Titus Manlius and a Gaul of gigantic Stature

Tarquinius Superbus makes himself King.

Appius Claudius punished by the People.

Some related external links:

• The John Leech Sketch archives from Punch, surprising collection of sketches (more than 600) issued from year 1841 to 1864. 1st click on "enter the archive" then navigate to "year index", most prolific year was 1851 with a total of 96 sketches, ordered by title. I was surprised about this website, no official logo, no reference to webmaster... ¿?

• Wikimedia collection. Category:The Comic History of Rome

Book of hours (use of Rome), 15th Century

Massacre of innocents

Probably the best illuminations I've never seen before in a conventional Book of Hours. This use of Rome Book of Hours was partially illustrated by Jean Fouquet and Jean Bourdichon (his pupil). Jean Fouquet, also referred to as Souquet, is considered the master of both panel painting and manuscript illumination during 15th Century. Born in France (Tours), decided to travel to Italy and experience at first hand the Italian Early Renaissance (his first work here was aportrait of Pope Eugene IV, who died in that year). I'll not extend on Fouquet's bio as he's well known. Only remark his -probably- best work: the Melun Diptych, a two panel oil painting stored in the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame in Melun (link goes to the official website of the city in french).

This amazing codex has 227 vellum folios in small format (116x110 cm) and has a total of 37 full page illustrations (which is over average for this type of manuscripts during 15th Century), some of them posted below:

St. Luke reading, wearing primitive glasses

The Death (armed with a lance and riding a bull)

Calendar section represents each month on two pages, with header written in silver letters; major festivals written in letters of gold. At the end of each month, a Latin phrase written in golden letters summarizes the activity of the month as follows: Janus Pocula amat. Februarius clamat Algeo. Arva fodit Martius. Aprilis prodit florida. Mayo sunt amorum floras. Junius fena dat. Julius resecatur avenam. Despicat Augustus [sic: Augustus Spicas colligit ]. September colligit uvas. Seminat October. Spoliat virgultam November. Querit cibum amare, porcum mactare December.

Month of December

External references related I could find:

• English version of online exhibition at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, I do recommend the "manuscript paintings" section -res fair- link
• Further lectures as follows: Paul R. Wescher, "Jean Fouquet and His Times" (1945; trans. 1947). Trenchard Cox, "Jehan Foucquet, Native of Tours (1931)". Klaus G. Perls, "Jean Fouquet (1939; trans. 1940)".
• Wikipedia link to "Melun Diptych", link here

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