The Care of Books Part 8

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER I.

DECORATION OF THE VATICAN LIBRARY.

The system of decoration carried out in this Library, of which I have just given a summary description, is so interesting, and bears evidence of so much care and thought, that I subjoin a detailed account of it, which, by the kindness of Father Ehrle, prefect of the Library, I was enabled to draw up during my late visits to Rome. The diagrammatic ground-plan (fig.

18) which accompanies this description, if studied in conjunction with the general view (fig. 16), will make the relation of the subjects to each other perfectly clear. The visitor is supposed to enter the Library from the vestibule at the east end; and the notation of the piers, windows, wall-frescoes, etc., begins from the same end. Further, the visitor is supposed to examine the east face of each pier first, and then to turn to the left.

I will begin with the figures on the central piers and half-piers. These figures are painted in fresco, of heroic size: and over their heads are the letters which they are supposed to have invented.

1. PILASTER AGAINST EAST WALL.

ADAM.

A tall stalwart figure dressed in short chiton. He holds an apple in his left hand, and a mattock in his right.

Adam divinitus edoctus primus scientiarum et litterarum inventor.

2. FIRST PIER.

(_a_) ABRAHAM.

Abraham Syras et Chaldaicas litteras invenit.

(_b_) THE SONS OF SETH.

Filii Seth columnis duabus rerum coelestium disciplinam inscribunt.

(_c_) ESDRAS.

Esdras novas Hebraeorum litteras invenit.

(_d_) MOSES.

Moyses antiquas Hebraicas litteras invenit.

On the cornice of the presses round this pier are the following inscriptions:

(_a_) Doctrina bona dabit gratiam. Prov. xiii. 15.

(_b_) Volo vos sapientes esse in bono. Rom. xvi. 19.

(_c_) Impius ignorat scientiam. Prov. xxix. 7.

(_d_) Cor sapientis quaerit doctrinam. Prov. xv. 14.

3. SECOND PIER.

(_a_) MERCURY.

Mercurius Thovt aegyptiis sacras litteras conscripsit.

(_b_) ISIS.

Isis regina aegyptiarum litterarum inventrix.

(_c_) MENON.

Menon Phoroneo aequalis litteras in aegypto invenit.

(_d_) HERCULES.

Hercules aegyptius Phrygias litteras invenit.

On the cornice of the presses:

(_a_) Recedere a malo intelligentia. Job xxviii. 28.

(_b_) Timere Deum ipsa est sapientia. Job xxviii. 22.

(_c_) Faciendi plures libros nullus est finis. Eccl. xii. 12.

(_d_) Dat scientiam intelligentibus disciplinam. Dan. xi. 12.

4. THIRD PIER.

(_a_) PHOENIX.

Phoenix litteras Phoenicibus tradidit.

(_b_) CECROPS.

Cecrops Diphyes primus Atheniensium rex Graecarum litterarum auctor.

(_c_) LINUS.

Linus Theba.n.u.s litterarum Graecarum inventor.

(_d_) CADMUS.

Cadmus Phoenicis frater litteras xvi in Graeciam intulit.

On the cornice of the presses:

(_a_) In malevolam animam non introibit sapientia. Sap. i. 4.

(_b_) Habentes solatio sanctos libros. 1 Mach. xii. 9.

(_c_) Cor r.e.c.t.u.m inquirit scientiam. Prov. xxvii. 12.

(_d_) Sapientiam qui abiicit infelix est. Sap. iii. 14.

5. FOURTH PIER.

(_a_) PYTHAGORAS.

Pythagoras. Y. litteram ad humanae vitae exemplum invenit.