Fior di Battaglia ("The Flower of Battle", B1.370.A MS M.0383) is an Italian fencing manual authored by Fiore de'i Liberi, probably created some time in or before 1404. The original currently rests in the holdings of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, New York. The manuscript is written on vellum in a modern biding in a neat humanist script; the illustrations are inked sketches with gold leafing on the crowns and garters and silver enamel on the metalic elements of the weapons (this has corroded to a glossy black). The treatise itself is the briefest known version of Fiore's work, containing only 19 folios; it has a preface in Italian and one to four illustrated figures per page in the main body. The figures are accompanied by descriptive paragraphs set in poor Italian verse which are nevertheless fairly clear and informative, and generally comparable to that of the MS Ludwig XV 13 (excepting differences in spelling) though at times they include additional explanation. The MS M.383 was almost certainly longer when it was first written; its text makes reference to sections on poleaxe, dagger, and grappling which are not present in the book's current state, as well as a certain play of the sword in one hand which is likewise missing from that section. This manuscript is typically referred to as the Pierpont Morgan or simply the Morgan.[1]
Provenance
The known provenance of the MS M.383 is:[2]
- Probably written between some time in or before 1404.
- before 1780 – it occupied ff 241-259 of a larger collective binding titled, Arte di armeggiare a piedi ed acavallo (codex Soranzo MCCLXI) in the Biblioteca Soranzo in Venice (Library of Jacopo Soranzo, Venetian senator, 18th century). The other contents of this codex are unknown.
- 1780-1836 – the collection of the Venetian former Jesuit Matteo Luigi Canonici (1727-c.1806) (sold London, Sotheby's, June 15, 1836, no. 40).
- 1836-1903 – owned by Rev. Walter Sneyd of Bagington Rectory, Coventry (sold London, Sotheby's, Dec. 19, 1903, no. 720).
- 1903-1909 – owned by Tammaro de Marinis (catalog 8, 1908, plate 9).
- 1909-1913 – owned by John Pierpont Morgan.
- 1913-1924 – owned by John Pierpont Morgan, Jr. (donated 1924).
- 1924-present – held by the Morgan Library & Museum.
Contents
| Cover
|
Transcription [edit]
by Michael Chidester
|
| [Inside cover]
Upper left: the number "228" in a frame (sticker)
- V
4
B
(in pencil)
Center: "Ex libris Gualteri Sneyd" surrounding a coat of arms (sticker)
- Sale Lond. 25 June 1836 No.40 (in pencil)
- "John Pierpont Morgan " surrounding a coat of arms (sticker)
- M.383 (in pencil)
Botton right: "SURREZ LAHEY" (stamped in leather edge)
|
| [Three blank parchment leaves]
|
|
| 1r - 2r
|
Preface by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 2v - 8r
|
Mounted fencing by Fiore de'i Liberi
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| 8r - 8v
|
Spear vs. cavalry by Fiore de'i Liberi
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| 9r - 9v
|
Spear by Fiore de'i Liberi
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| 10r - 11v
|
Armored fencing by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 12r - 16v
|
Longsword in two hands by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 17r, 18r - 18v
|
Sword vs. dagger by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 17v, 19r
|
Longsword in one hand by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 18r
|
Longsword vs. spear by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 18r
|
Spear and dagger vs. spear by Fiore de'i Liberi
|
| 19v - 20v
|
Blank
|
| Cover
|
Transcription [edit]
by Michael Chidester
|
| [Three blank parchment leaves]
|
| [Inside cover]
Upper left: "De Marinis 1909" (in pencil)
Center: [modern paste-in] Fiore de' Liberi was the greatest Italian swordsman of the XIVth century. After an active military career, he was summoned to the court of Niccolo III d'Este at Ferrara, to instruct the younger princes in military science. Upon his honorable retirement in 1409, he complied with the request of his prince to compile a book on the art of the duel, in order that his vast experience might be preserved to future generations. The result of his labors was the Flos Duellatorum.
Of the two contemporary copies of the original, one is preserved in the library of Marchese d'Este, the other is the property of Sig. Alberto Pisano-Dossi.
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Gallery
Images hosted by the Morgan Library & Museum.
Additional Resources
- dei Liberi, Fiore; Leoni, Tommaso. Fiore de’ Liberi’s Fior di Battaglia. 1st ed. Lulu.com, 2009. 2nd ed. Wheaton, IL: Freelance Academy Press, 2012.
- dei Liberi, Fiore; Rubboli, Marco; Cesari, Luca (in Italian). Flos Duellatorum. Manuale di Arte del Combattimento del XV secolo. Rome: Il Cerchio Iniziative Editoriali, 2002. ISBN 88-8474-023-1.
- Malipiero, Massimo (in Italian). Il Fior di battaglia di Fiore dei Liberi da Cividale: Il Codice Ludwing XV 13 del J. Paul Getty Museum. Udine: Ribis, 2006. ISBN 88-7445-035-4.
References
Copyright and License Summary
For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.
