| Country | Location, Library | Manuscripts |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Überlingen, Leopold-Sophien-Bibliothek | 1 |
| Austria | St. Paul in Kärnten, Stiftsbibliothek St. Paul im Lavanttal | 1 |
| Country | Location, Library | Manuscripts |
|---|---|---|
| France | Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France | 1 |
| United States of America | Cleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art | 1 |
| Russia | St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia | 1 |
Number of manuscripts: 18
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 43
Paper · 529 ff. · 33 x 22 cm · 1529/1530 until 1523
In the years 1529-1531 the St. Gall humanist, reformer, and politician Joachim Vadian wrote a history of the abbey and city of St. Gall during the high and late middle ages (1199-1491). It goes by the title Grössere Chronik der Äbte (Great Chronicle of the Abbots). In this work, Vadian describes the way the abbey town changed into a self-reliant, independent city and became wealthy from the cloth weaving industry. The historical work is simultaneously a work of heated reformist protest, exposing and often bitingly commenting upon the increasing corruption of church dignitaries and institutions, particularly the Abbots and Abbey of St. Gall since the investiture conflict.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 292
Parchment · 180 ff. · 28.5 x 20 cm · St. Gall (?) / St. Gall · second quarter of the 9th century
The composite manuscript VadSlg Ms. 292 combines three independently produced parts, bound together in about 1460 at the Abbey of St. Gall. The first part is a Psalter from the 9th century; whether it was produced in St. Gall is questionable. The hymnal from the 12th century that comprises the second part contains a dedicatory illustration showing the scribe Eberhard presenting his book to Gallus, while Pope Gregory sits at a podium writing down songs that that a dove representing the Holy Spirit is whispering in his ear. The third part is a fragment containing prologues to the Psalter.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 292a
Parchment · 2 + 3 ff. · 23 x 18.5 cm · Northern Italy · about 410/420
These fragments from late antiquity are among the oldest surviving copies of the Gospels in the "Vulgate" Latin version edited by Jerome († 420). The manuscript was most likely produced in northern Italy before his death. In the early middle ages it came into the possession of the Abbey of St. Gall. These particular leaves were attached to the spine and inner side of the cover for reinforcement, as part of a new binding applied to VadSlg Ms. 292 during the reorganization of the library in about 1460.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 294
Parchment · 324 ff. · 22 x 19-19.5 cm · St. Gall · last quarter of the 9th century
This Evangelary with an unusual, nearly square format and full-page illuminated initials was written and decorated in the late 9th century at the Abbey of St. Gall. The binding, which was originally covered in bright silk brocade in red, yellow, and green, is equally unusual. Remnants of this material can still be found on the inner edge of the cover. The volume was annotated by Ekkehart IV during the 11th century; there are also some verses in his hand at the end.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 295
Parchment · 192 ff. · 19 x 12,5 cm · St. Gall · 11th century
This small-format volume from the 11th century combines a calendar, a gradual with neumes, and sung parts of the Mass with a sacramentary containing the prayers of the Mass. It was likely written in the Abbey of St. Gall; in the late middle ages it was moved to the chapel of Peter and Paul in Rotmonten near St. Gall. Numerous entire leaves and parts of leaves containing decorated initials have been cut out.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 296
Parchment · 111 ff. · 25 x 18 cm · 12th century
In the works 'De arithmetica' and 'De institutione' Boethius transmitted Greek mathematics and music theory to medieval readers. The polychrome schematic illustrations in this 12th century manuscript are particularly carefully made.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 298
Parchment · 80 ff. · 31 x 22 cm · Florence · 1410 (?)
This volume produced in 1420 in Florence is among the earliest manuscripts written in Humanist minuscule, and it is possible that this is a direct copy from the model written by Poggio Bracciolini, the inventor of this script. According to the judgment of Berthold Louis Ullman, it is "perhaps the best example of humanistic writing during the first decade of the fifteenth century - except Poggio's."
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 302
Parchment · 296 ff. · 30-30.5 x 20.5-21 cm · Zurich · about 1300
This Rudolf von Ems manucript originated in the same area of Zurich that produced the Manessische Liederhanschrift (Manesse Song Script). It represents one of the most accomplished examples of south German book decoration from the time around 1300, with excellent miniatures illustrating the Chronicle of the World by Rudolf von Ems and the Stricker's epic poem about Charlemagne and his military campaign in Spain.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 307
Parchment · 233 ff. · 36.5 x 25.5 cm · Padua · 1442
This volume is the second of a three-volume set, an edition of Livius written in 1442 and 1143 in Padua. It is of particular interest because the texual model is well-known: the Livius manuscript of Sicco Polentone (1375/76-1446), Chancellor of Padua, today Holkham Hall Library, MS 349. This manuscript is written in an extremely regular semi-Gothic script augmented with exquisite white vine scroll initials.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 317
Parchment · 108 ff. · 23 x 18 cm · St. Gall ? · 9th–10th centuries and about 1460
This unimposing composite manuscript contains six works of differing content types and origins, bound together under the auspices of the librarian of St. Gall in about 1460. The individual elements were produced independently of one another during the 9th or 10th century. Some are incomplete, lacking the beginning, the ending, or both. Nevertheless, this composite manuscript received attention from early on, as some of the component parts are important for the texts they transmit. This volume contains the only early medieval transmissions of the Langobard Chronicle by Andreas Bergamensis and the life of the Irish saint Findan. The "Admonitio ad filium" by the Greek church father Basilius and the "Visio Pauli", an early christian vision of the afterlife, are among the oldest of textual artifacts.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 321
Parchment · 227 ff. · 19 x 13 cm · Premonstratensian Abbey of Weissenau near Ravensburg · 13th-14th century
This cartulary contains the founding legal title of the Premonstratensian cloister of Weissenau near Ravensburg; the popes, emperors, kings, princes, dukes, bishops and vicars mentioned in the charter are portrayed in the margins with their attributes of office. Prepended to the cartulary itself is a history of the founding of the monastery, appended are a tribute register and other documents.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 332
Parchment · 453 ff. · 21.5 x 15 cm · Northern France / South of England (?) · second half of the 13th century or beginning of the 14th century
This richly illustrated pocket bible from the end of the 13th or beginning of the 14th century contains the Old and New Testaments. It combines the new chapter numerations of the 13th century and the older Eusebian numeration of the Gospels; the Psalm section includes Gallican versions set side by side with translations by Jerome. The Psalm section also includes historiated initials accompanied by interesting humorous sayings.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 342
Parchment · 9 ff. · 30 x 21 cm · Originated in a German speaking region, possibly Bohemia · about 1360/1370
The illustrations and texts enjoy equal importance in this illustrated anti-papal propaganda work, named for its opening line "Ascende calve". The Vadian Collection manuscript is the most important exemplar of this text, in which the texts take the form of proverbs. The most notable and fascinating feature of this manuscript is the way in which the gray-tone illustrations are used.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 343c
Paper · 275 ff. · 38-39 x 27 cm · Hagenau · middle of the 15th century
This two-volume, large format history Bible (“Historienbibel”) is illustrated throughout in an artistic style characteristic of the workshop of Diebold Lauber in Hagenau. This history Bible is traceable to Constance in the third quarter of the 15th century; some defects were repaired in St. Gallen in the early 17th century – one of the early conservation efforts undertaken in this city.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 343d
Paper · 124 ff. · 38.5–39 x 27 cm · Hagenau · middle of the 15th century
This two-volume, large format history Bible (“Historienbibel”) is illustrated throughout in an artistic style characteristic of the workshop of Diebold Lauber in Hagenau. This history Bible is traceable to Constance in the third quarter of the 15th century; some defects were repaired in St. Gallen in the early 17th century – one of the early conservation efforts undertaken in this city.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 427
Paper · 128 ff. · 29 x 21 cm · Lyon · third quarter of the 15th century
The cosmology of the Lyon physician and astrologer Luis De Lange treats the formation of the world and describes the earth and the stars in the sky. The illustrations of the decans, showing the subdivision of each of the twelve signs of the zodiac into three astrological sections, are worthy of particular attention. Despite the attractive illustration, the work was not very popular; only a few manuscripts are known to exist.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 455
Paper · 156 ff. · 30.5 x 21.5 cm · southwestern German state · third quarter of the 15th century
This collection of works was produced during the third quart of the 15th century, under the influence of early humanism, in one of the southwestern German states. It contains German and Latin texts from the late middle ages as well as some interlinear and marginal glosses. The newer works by humanist authors include contributions by Petrarch, Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (later Pope Pius II), Hieronymus de Vallibus and Antonio Barzizza.
St. Gallen, Kantonsbibliothek, Vadianische Sammlung, VadSlg Ms. 484
Paper · 134 ff. · 23.5 x 16–16.5 cm · Italy · 1468
Heinrich Schlüsselfelder's work, Blumen der Tugend, a collection of brief instructive tales, is derived from an Italian model. The author, originally from Nürnberg, translated them into German in 1468 in Italy. The paper is of Italian manufacture; the Lombard initials, the binding stamp and what remains of the fasteners are all of Italian design. For illustrations Schlüsselfelder used early Italian copperplate engravings portraying the cardinal virtues and a unicorn; slightly later he, or a reader, illustrated the text with color-washed pen sketches in the margins.