Lot 1077 , Doctoral Diploma of the University of Padua, 1 February 1655.

° Doctoral Diploma of the University of Padua, 1 February 1655. Degree conferring a doctorate in both laws on Nicholao de Zottis of Treviso, son of Don Francisco, issued by Marcus Marchianus Vicentinus, vicar-general of Georgio Cornaro, bishop of Padua.

In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment 6 folios, preceded and followed by single paper flyleaves (with lamb and flag watermark), complete in one gathering (i6), written in an Italian cursive italic script on 25 long lines, pages ruled with double framing lines in magenta; many letters in majuscule in liquid gold, text pages framed with full foliate and floral borders in blue, red, yellow, gold and silver; illuminated frontispiece with full border incorporating descriptions of a magpie, goldfinch and butterflies, roundels in baroque frames depicting an unidentified religious in a gesture of benediction with halo and palm of martyrdom (top margin) and the arms of the grantee, azure two bars or surmounted by a cross pattée or, impaling argent an olive branch); square cartouche with the beginning of the text of the diploma on 15 lines, incorporating an initial V (for Vniversis) in liquid gold; list of witnesses; signed by Marcus Marchianus Vicentinus and Paolo Pastori, chancellor; given at the episcopal palace at Padua, 1 February 1655 (new style)

Bound in contemporary Italian red morocco binding, lavishly gilt in the fanfare style, tooled in blind with a frame of triple fillets, enclosing two narrow borders with delicate gold tooling, a large rectangular centre panel with an elaborate fan motif, and arabesque designs with stamps vine tendrils and grapes at each corner; traces of silk ties, seals [of the Bishop of Padua] now wanting; dimensions of parchment leaves 241 x 172 mm.; dimensions overall 247 x 181 mm.

For a similar diploma granted by the University of Padua on 24 March 1654, see Christie’s sale 4750 of 25 May 2016, Lot 37, where the vicar-general is erroneously identified as the grantee.

For the university’s registration of this degree, identifying the grantee as a Roman, see Cenni ed inscrizioni dell’ Università de Padova (Padua, 1841) p46.

GORRINGE’S are grateful to Christopher Whittick for cataloguing this lot.
£2,500-3,500