Bodleyan Library

 The famous library of Oxford University is one of the things to see when you visit that town. It was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley, one of the gentlemen of the first Queen Elizabeth, but it certainly contains books older then her time. Some are mediaeval manuscripts. A free exhibition there usually shows a couple of ancient manuscripts but these are certainly not always the same.

This I know because I visited the place several times and saw different books. First time I saw a book, written in Carolingian minuscule that supposedly belonged to Margaret queen of Scots, as well as a book by Christine de Pisan written in early 15th century bastarda. Unfortunately I didn't have a good camera with me, but I had something. Another time I saw an English Psalter from 14th century written in elegant textura. This time I had a better equipment to take a picture.

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.

DAPIFER CRACOVIENSIS

 The palace of bishop Erazm Ciołek in Cracow now houses a museum where one can see Cracow's Gothic painting. One of the pictures one can see there is the epitaph of Wierzbieta z Branic, which is not a stone monument but a framed painting with a pretty calligraphy on the frame. The inscription is of course in Latin, praising (as not unusual on an epitaph) dapifer Cracoviensis Wierzbieta de Branice. "Dapifer" was a high rank on the royal court, whereas Branice was the village the said dapifer was from.

There is no date but the style of the painting suggests the first part of the 15th century.

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.