Thebais (BL Burney 257)

An old man speaks to a king and his armoured men, f. 56r.

Colloquial name(s): Thebais, with the argumenta antiqua; Achilleis; Compendium and summary of Thebais and Achilleis

Official name(s): British Library Burney 257

Date: 1st quarter of 15th Century, possibly c. 1405 (source)

Origin: Paris, Central France (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

This manuscript consists of several sections (source):

• ff.2r-4v: Compendium, by Laurent de Premierfait (the translator)
• ff. 4v-210r: Thebais, with the argumenta antiqua, by Publius Papinius Statius
• ff. 210v-222v: Summary of Thebais, by Laurent de Premierfait (the translator)
• ff. 226r-248v: Achilleis, by Publius Papinius Statius
• ff. 225r-226r: Summary of Achilleis, by Laurent de Premierfait (the translator)

The manuscript is copiously illustrated, predominantly in grisaille. The miniatures of ff. 137v-144v and 162v-168r are attributed to the Cité des Dames Master; those on ff. 10v-11r to the workshop of the Virgil Master; those on ff. 226v-239v to the Orosius Master; and the reproduced miniature on f. 6r to a Netherlandish illuminator working in Paris who executed a large part of the miniatures (source). At least two other hands, working in related styles, are also recognised (source).

Basic descriptions of some of the illustrations are provided by the British Library with the facsimile.