Per gli esordi della decorazione del Digesto in epoca medievale : le iniziali miniate del ms. 941 della Biblioteca Universitaria di Padova

Abstract

The Digestum vetus 941 of the Biblioteca Universitaria di Padova, dating back to the first half of the twelfth century, is well known to the studies among the witnesses of the earliest manuscript tradition of the work. However, the fine penwork initials adorning the manuscript have not been equally investigated, except for a few recent insights. The article explores the uncommon iconographies of some initials and analyses the style of the miniatures, advancing possible connections with the contemporary book illumination close to the milieu of Matilda of Canossa.

Keywords

• Digestum vetus
• roman law
• Padua
• illuminated legal manuscripts
• romanesque book illumination