"The Matriculation Register of the Basel Rectorate, recorded in
manuscript form from 1460 to 2000, contains semester and annual
information notices added by each successive rector as well as lists of
enrolled students, thus providing an important resource for the history
of the University of Basel. In addition, Vol. 1 contains records in
illustrations and text of the opening of the university. The rich book
decoration in the first three volumes is particularly notable. The work
of 3 centuries, it is easily datable due to the chronogical order in
which it was added and thus provides a welcome demonstration of the art
of miniature painting in Basel."
A selection of manuscript page images shown below come from the first
three matriculation volumes, covering the period 1460 to 1764, courtesy
of Basel University Library. The three volumes are in order from oldest
to newest, but the sequence of images displayed from each volume is -
fairly obviously - not in date order. Under each image is the name of
the rector in charge and their service period, corresponding to the
approximate production date of the manuscript page decoration.
Rector Ulrich Coccius (1563/64)
Rector Augustin Lutenwang (1510/11)
Rector Werner Schlierbach (1506/07)
Rector Melchior von Baden (1496)
Rector William Greaves (1493)
Rector Heinrich Vogt (1490/91)
Rector St. John Siber (1487/88)
Rector Otto Blades (1472)
The above images...
Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, AN II 3: Matriculation Register of the Rectorate of the University of Basel,
Volume 1 (1460-1567)
Link to e-codices overview page & access to digitised manuscript of Volume 1.
The manuscript and images remain the property of Basel University Library, are covered by a
CC 3.0 license and appear here with permission.
Rector St. John Brandmüller (1587/88)
Rector Felix Platter II (1651/52)
Rector Johann Jakob Faesch (1630/31)
Rector Martin Chmieleck (1613/14)
Rector Thomas Cook (1602/03)
Rector Sebastian Beck (1617/18)
Rector Heinrich Justus (1599/1600)
Rector Emanuel Stupanus (1631/32)
Rector Johann Rudolf Burckhardt (1620/21)
The above images...
Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, AN II 4: Matriculation Register of the Rectorate of the University of Basel,
Volume 2 (1586-1653)
Link to e-codices overview page & access to digitised manuscript of Volume 2.
The manuscript and images remain the property of Basel University Library, are covered by a
CC 3.0 license and appear here with permission.
Rector Johann Friedrich Burckhardt (1665/66)
Rector Christopher Faesch (1672/73)
Rector James Rudin (1676/77)
Rector Luke Gernler (1659/60)
Rector Peter Falkeisen (1655/56)
Rector Jacob Burckhardt II (1698/99)
The above images...
Basel, Universitätsbibliothek, AN II 4a: Matriculation Register of the
Rectorate of the University of Basel, Volume 3 (1654-1764)
The manuscript and images remain the property of Basel University Library are covered by a
CC 3.0 license and appear here with permission.
In addition to providing a chronological record of academic life at the
University, these beautiful Basel matriculation manuscripts show
differences in tastes, customs and directives of the many rectors in
charge of the institution and cultural developments in the local
territory. As official documentary records, these books may well have
been the subject of outside inspection (benefactors, nobility, religious
leaders &c), so political considerations will have influenced the
nature of the content at any given time as well. There are periods where
calligraphic flourishing is missing for whatever reason. Introductions
for each teaching semester (in verse or prose, alphabetic or seasonal)
varied in style and length as rectors and decades rolled along. The
decoration of the manuscripts, although obviously extensive, was tamped
down or sparse, in some periods: in particular, during the religious
upheavals of the Reformation in the 16th century.
The manuscripts are also priceless catalogues of three centuries of (the
presumably) regional artist output. Some of the artists/scribes are
listed in the descriptions that accompany each manuscript, although they
are often only identified ("artist Hand-B" &c) rather than being
specifically named. Among other forms of decoration, the matriculation
volumes contain cryptic allegorical motifs, elaborate coats of arms
(they dominate), embellished grotesque and baroque architectural
structures, cartouches and occasional rector and faculty portraits. Many
of these border designs and frames serve to visually enhance mottoes, a
rector's c.v., poetic verses and the like. Obviously additions have
been made over the centuries and not all of the contents can be
accurately dated or attributed. In one instance, a rhyming couplet of
verse accompanied by the initials SB was added and is judged to have
been inserted by the renowned Sebastian Brandt (of
'Ship of Fools'
fame), who taught law at the university towards the end of the 16th
century. All the text, throughout each of the manuscripts, is in Latin.
The only outside commentary I could find mentions that one of the
painted miniatures among these matriculation volumes shows some evidence
(esoteric specifics about a room seemingly filled with pieces of art - image 5th from bottom) that Basel University was one of the earliest places to evolve from the personal collector mentality -
kunstkammer* - towards public educational displays of artifacts in the form of galleries and museums.
These manuscripts are owned by Basel University Library and are posted online through the e-codices portal: the
Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland.
Some 40+ Swiss libraries contribute materials for display through this
outstanding multi-institutional website. It should be noted that
e-codices are very particular about rights and permissions in relation
to their clients' works and I would strongly advise you to contact the
specific client institution and seek prior permission to display or
reuse any of their materials. This is
mostly to do with
monitoring their national heritage and ensuring proper attribution for
the works are used. I have happily corresponded with a few of their
libraries and the central portal in the past without incident.
