Codex Cocharelli
Der Codex Cocharelli
A UNIQUE GLIMPSE INTO THE ITALIAN MIDDLE AGES
A famous Genoese merchant family has created a marvellous monument to itself in this small booklet. The manuscript is remarkable for its unique artistic quality and its content, which reflects the turbulent political and economic history of Europe. In times of the Mongol and Islamic threat, the fragile inner-European power structure, the end of the Crusader states and the lively trade between Europe and the Far East along the Silk Road, the experiences of this Genoese merchant family illustrate the history of Europe and Italy at that time in an exemplary manner.
A DIDACTIC TEXT ABOUT VICES AND VIRTUES
The text of the codex was probably written in the first half of the 14th century by a grandson of the merchant Pellegrino Cocharelli in Genoa. Pellegrino, originally from Provence, was a wealthy merchant in Acre, Cyprus and France between 1269 and 1307. After the fall of Acre in 1291, he settled with his family in Genoa, from where he continued to trade. The framework text is a didactic text about vices and virtues, with individual examples intended to give the reader a deeper understanding. Most of the examples are events from the time the manuscript was written, making it a great source for history and politics, as well as art and science.
A MANUSCRIPT COMES TOGETHER AGAIN
The Cocharelli Codex was written between 1325 and 1335 and is now preserved in six fragments scattered all over the world, which have now been brought together again in the facsimile edition. The Codex Cocharelli is a unique work that goes beyond the scope of an ordinary moral treatise. It reflects the complex world of the Middle Ages, interweaving economic interests, political intrigues and moral teachings, thus offering us a fascinating window into the world of the 13th and 14th centuries. The artistic execution of the splendid miniatures is again due to Genoa‘s unique position as an important trading metropolis in the late Middle Ages, where a wide variety of cultures came together: French, Italian and Oriental elements can clearly be found in the pictures. But also the fascination for the Middle and Far East, the interest in foreign cultures and the burgeoning humanism in Italy, a rapidly developing financial and economic power and the first detailed scientific depictions, which were revolutionary for their time, make this booklet a magical gem of history in many respects. There are numerous details and uniquely colourful miniatures to discover on every page and the magnificent imagery of the Middle Ages is presented to us in the highest quality.
Characteristics
Der Codex Cocharelli | |
| Entstehungsjahr | First half of the 14th century |
| Entstehungsort | Genua |
| Bibliothek und Signatur | British Library, London Musem of Art, Cleveland, Wade Fund |
| Umfang | 27 Folios |
| Miniaturen | Every page richly adorned with remarkable miniatures and ornamental decoration |
Die Edition
Der Codex Cocharelli | |
| Format | 16,3cm x 10,3cm |
| Limitierung | 1000 copies |
| Bucheinband | Leather binding with gold embossing |
| Kommentarband | Scientific commentary volume by Chiara Maria Concina |
| Artikel Nummer | 72104 |
| Verlag | Müller & Schindler |
Questions and Answers
The Codex vividly reflects the political, economic, and cultural landscape of 13th- and 14th-century Europe, seen through the lens of a prominent Genoese merchant family.
Pellegrino Cocharelli was a prosperous merchant active in Acre, Cyprus, and France. The Codex was likely written by his grandson in Genoa and contains autobiographical elements inspired by his life and era.
The text is a didactic treatise on virtues and vices, illustrated with contemporary examples – encompassing political events, economic affairs, and moral teachings.
The miniatures masterfully blend French, Italian, and Oriental influences – a testament to Genoa’s cosmopolitan role as a major medieval trading hub.
For the first time, all six fragments of the Codex – long scattered across the globe – have been reassembled in a faithful facsimile, presenting the manuscript’s vivid medieval imagery in exceptional quality.
In addition to moral instruction, the Codex features early scientific illustrations, remarkably advanced for their time – heralding the rise of humanism in Italy.
It reveals the intricate interplay of commerce, politics, religion, and culture in the medieval world – offering valuable insights for historians, art historians, and scholars of medieval literature alike.
