Liber viaticus
manuscript commissioned by Johannes Noviforensis
Liber viaticus is a breviary made sometime in the 1350s, at the latest in 1364, for Bishop John of Neumarkt. This is an illuminated manuscript of 319 sheets in relatively good condition preserved to this day (not the original binding) and deposited in the National Museum Library, Prague (sign. XIII A 12).
Analysis
The title Liber viaticus comes directly from the book itself, which in a sort of bookplates is the text "Liber viaticus Domini Johannis, Luthomislensis Episcopi, imperialis cancellarii", which can be translated as "travel book of Mr. John, bishop of Litomysl, superior office".
The Codex could therefore serve as a traveling breviary, albeit rather expensive to manufacture at least it raises doubts that he routinely traveled with the book.
The book is especially known for its rich illuminations. The artist (anonymous, in literature known as the Master Liber viaticus), who was well educated; he was familiar with both the Italian and French painting tradition. The Painting concerns several large figure scenes in initials, minor abstract initials, and Drolleries.
Bibliography
Jiří Fajt.
The public source identifies “Liber viaticus” as manuscript commissioned by Johannes Noviforensis. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Liber, viaticus and manuscript.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Liber viaticus”, the useful work is to connect “manuscript commissioned by Johannes Noviforensis” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 26, 2024. The linked authority identifier is Q20755471. Authority coordinates are 50.080, 14.432. 1 of 3 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1364.
Later fame can flatten the distinction between original context, subsequent adaptation and institutional collecting history. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
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Three-step research path
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Liber viaticus” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.