Lo Statuto della Compagnia del Santissimo Sagramento in S. Nicolò dei Perfetti (Statutes of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament), in Italian and Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment

CAREFULLY WRITTEN AND DECORATED UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT FROM AN ITALIAN CONFRATERNITY. In Italian and Latin, decorated manuscript on parchment, Italy (Rome), c. 1736-1745. Dimensions 231 x 167 mm., 27 folios, complete, written in black ink in italic and in an upright script modelled on Roman font in 25 long lines, red rubrics, full decorative borders in black ink throughout, five 3-line and one 4-line initials in red ink with acanthus, one 6-line initial in black ink with acanthus, decorative tail pieces throughout. BINDING: original quarter leather binding with decorative paper covered boards. TEXT: This manuscript contains the statues for a confraternity (truncated) in Rome, recording its regulations including the election of its chief officers, maintenance of the archives, care for the sick, funerary arrangements for deceased members, and so forth. Carefully written and decorated, this manuscript illustrates the interesting continuation of manuscript culture (in this case clearly influenced by the aesthetics of contemporary printed volumes) in the eighteenth century. PROVENANCE: Written and decorated in Rome for the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament in S. Nicolò dei Perfetti, Rome; the Statutes were originally ratified c. 1736; additions at the end of the manuscript confirming reforms to the statutes are dated 1744-1745; auction and other notes, all in pencil, in several hands; later owned by Kroch's Bookstore, Inc., Chicago (typed description from Kroch's bookstore laid in). CONDITION: slight darkening to edges, binding with slight wear to corners of boards, first quire loosened from bottom cord, in otherwise very good condition. Full description and images available. (TM 1093) (Inventory #: TM 1093)