Storia do Mogor : or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

  • Manucci, Niccolò, 1639-approximately 1717.
Date:
1907-08
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Codex CXXXVI. Subjects of paintings in same. 1 wtroduction ‘ At length a capable copyist was found, but at too high a rate, and while negotiations over this were pending my brother was compelled to continue his journey to St. Petersburg. He certainly confided the matter to a German friend in Venice; however, this gentleman died soon afterwards, and since then I gave up the project for the time being, although the Abbate Morelli, custodian of the library’ [Jacopo Morelli, 1745-1819, custodian from 1778], ‘ assured me through another friend in Venice he would willingly produce the manuscript in question, if a diligent copyist could be found as to whose moral character he could entertain no doubts.’ Bernouilli winds up by expressing the hope that these hints will induce some one to follow up the trace and select the most valuable parts of this ‘ apparently-for-the-greater-part- important manuscript.’ The Abbate Morelli’s demand for a ‘ moral ’ copyist is somewhat diverting. VI. THE OTHER MANUCCI CODICES AT VENICE. Codex CXXXVI., in Class VI., bears the same book-plate as Codex XLV. (Zanetti), the name of the same librarian, Geronimo Veniero, and the same year, MDCCXXII. It is a volume of pictures, all in colours. They represent gods and goddesses, devotees, marriage and funeral ceremonies, Hindu and Mahomedan festivals. There are also plans of the battle between Shah ‘Alam and A'zam Shah, similar to those bound up in Codex XLIV. There are short descriptions of the pictures, some in French and some in Italian. From a transcript of these descriptions (French text) made for me through Dr. Cóggiola, I give the following list of the subjects : {la) A representation of Banjaras, or grain-carriers ; (I) Brahma; (2) Vishnu; (3) Brahman and his wife, followers of No. 2 (Vishnu) ; (4) a second picture of Vishnu ; (5) Brahman (follower of Vishnu No. 4) and his wife ; (6) a third picture of Vishnu ; (7) Brahman and his wife, followers of the third Vishnu, No. 6; (8) Rudra (Shiva) ; (9) priest of Rudra and his wife; (10) Pillaiyaur, son of Rudra; (ii) another picture of Rudra ; (12) priest of Rudra with his wife ; (13) ceremony at
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