Part 32 (1/2)

MARK, FLORENCE, AND AT MONTE OLIVETO. VATICAN LIBRARY OF SIXTUS IV. DUCAL LIBRARY AT URBINO. MEDICEAN LIBRARY, FLORENCE. SYSTEM OF CHAINING THERE USED. CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIEVAL LIBRARIES. NAMES OF MEDIEVAL BOOKCASES AND BOOKSHELVES.

While the ”stall-system” was being generally adopted in England and in France, a different plan was being developed in Italy. It consisted in a return to the ”lectern-system,” with the addition of a shelf below the lectern, on which the books lay on their sides when not wanted; and an ingenious combination of a seat for the reader with the desk and shelf.

The earliest library fitted up in this manner that I have been able to discover is at Cesena, a city of north Italy between Forli and Ravenna. It is practically in its original condition.

In the fifteenth century Cesena was governed by the powerful family of Malatesta, one of whom, Domenico Malatesta Novello, built the library in 1452, and placed it under the charge of the convent of S. Francesco. Two burghers were a.s.sociated with the Friars in this duty. The library was always public. It was designed by Matteo Nuzio of Fano, a celebrated architect of the day, as we learn from an inscription originally inserted into the wall on the right of the door of entrance, but now placed inside the library:

MATHEVS. NVTIVS.

FANENSI EX VRBE. CREATVS.

DEDALVS ALTER. OPVS.

TANTVM. DEDVXIT. AD VNGVEM.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figs. 90, 91. Ground-plan and section of Library at Cesena.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 92. General view of the Library at Cesena.

From a photograph.]

The general plan and arrangement will be readily understood from the ground-plan (fig. 90), and the longitudinal section (fig. 91), copied on a reduced scale from those given by the learned Giuseppe Maria Muccioli, who published a catalogue of the MSS. in the library in 1780[356], and also from the general view of the interior (fig. 92). It is a long narrow building, 133 ft. 4 in. long, by 34 ft. broad[357], standing east and west, so that its windows face north and south. It is on the first floor, being built over some rooms which once belonged to the convent, and is entered at the west end through a lofty marble doorway. Internally it is divided into three aisles, of which the central is the narrowest, by two rows of ten fluted marble columns. Against the side-walls and partly engaged in them, are two rows of similar columns. The aisles are divided by plain quadripart.i.te vaults, resting partly on the central columns, partly on those engaged in the side-walls, into eleven bays, each lighted by two windows (fig. 91). These aisles are about 12 ft. wide. The central aisle, 8 ft. 3 in. wide between the columns, has a plain barrel vault, extending from end to end of the building.

The influence of the Renaissance may readily be detected in the ornamentation of the columns, but traces of medieval forms still linger in the room. If the central alley were wider it might be taken for the nave of a basilica.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 93. Bookcases at west end of south side of Library, Cesena.]

There are 29 bookcases in each aisle. Between each pair of cases there is a wooden floor, raised 3 in. above the general level of the room; and there is an interval of 2 ft. 3 in. between the cases and the wall, so that access may be readily obtained to them from either end. The room is paved with unglazed tiles.

The westernmost bay is empty (fig. 90), being used as a vestibule, and the first bookcase, if I may be allowed the expression, on each side, is really not a bookcase but a seat (fig. 93)[358].

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 94. Part of a bookcase at Cesena to shew the system of chaining.]

The construction of these cases is most ingenious, both as regards convenience and economy of s.p.a.ce. If they were designed by the architect who built the room, he must have been a man of no ordinary originality.

Each piece of furniture consists of a desk to lay the books on when wanted for use, a shelf for those not immediately required, and a seat for the reader, whose comfort is considered by a gentle slope in the back (fig.

93). At the end next the central alley is a panel containing the heraldic devices of the Malatesta family.

The princ.i.p.al dimensions of each case are as follows:

Length 10 ft. 2 in.

Height 4 ft. 2 in.

Width of seat 3 ft. 1 in.

Width of foot-rest 11 in.

Height 3 in.

Height of seat from ground 1 ft. 10 in.

Width 1 ft. 4 in.

Distance from desk to desk 4 ft. 1 in.

Angle of slope of desk 45.