The IEM – Institute of Medieval Studies-NOVA / FCSH is pleased to announce that the database “Digital Legal Scriptorium – Portugal” is now publicly available by clicking here.
This database aims to make available to researchers digitalised versions of legal manuscript collections, dating from the Middle Ages and the Humanistic period, held in Portuguese libraries. The database is edited by Maria Alessandra Bilotta (IEM-NOVA / FCSH) in the context of the research project “ManJurEurIt. Manuscritos Jurídicos Europeus Itinerantes” (nationally funded through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the auspices of the contract-Program stipulated under numbers 4, 5 and 6 of art. 23 of Decree Law no. 57/2016, of 29 August, amended by Law no. 57/2017, of 19 July) within the objective of drafting a scientific catalogue of illuminated legal manuscripts preserved in Portugal. The database is hosted on the website of the IUS ILLUMINATUM Research Workshop and will be progressively updated.
IUS ILLUMINATUM is an international scientific team made up of medieval art historians belonging to different European academic institutions, all specialised in illuminated legal manuscripts. The formation of this research team is linked to the current research project “ManJurEurIt. Manuscritos Jurídicos Europeus Itinerantes” by Maria Alessandra Bilotta, PhD researcher of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University and an integrated member of the Institute of Medieval Studies (IEM) at the same University, and the coordinator and lead researcher of the team. The project “ManJurEurIt. Manuscritos Jurídicos Europeus Itinerantes” aims to investigate the circulation of legal manuscripts in Portugal and their links with artistic and social mobility in Mediterranean Europe. The research team aims to complete a comparative study of the artistic, cultural and social currents revealed by the production and circulation of illuminated legal manuscripts in medieval Europe. Each team member sets out to investigate these phenomena by studying specific typologies of legal manuscripts within a defined region of Europe. The team will also consider the material aspects of the medieval legal book, with the collaboration of codicologists and archaeologists, analysing the books as if they were archaeological artefacts. Finally, another aim of the team’s work is to help promote wider discussion of these problems by organising scientific meetings and establishing interdisciplinary contacts and collaborations with other research groups and scientific institutions. IUS ILLUMINATUM is hosted at the Institute of Medieval Studies (IEM), the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University.