In Search of the Sources: The Abbreviated Version of the Spanish Translation of the Work of Isaac of Nineveh in the Sevillian Print of 1497

Abstract

This study aimed to discuss the question of the sources of the abbreviated version of the Spanish translation of the work of Isaac of Nineveh present in the Sevillian print of 1497. Two hypotheses were considered: that of material continuity (the source for the abbreviated version would be in the same testimony in which there was the source for the Spanish translation of the excerpts from Vincent Ferrer’s work, also present in the Seville print of 1497) and that of Latin source (the source with Isaac’s work would be in Latin). The analysis of surviving testimonies of Vincent Ferrer’s work from the 15th and 16th centuries (manuscripts and prints) did not confirm the hypothesis of material contiguity, although new evidence of relevance of the hypothesis was obtained. The analysis of several testimonies of the tradition of the work of Isaac of Nineveh (in Greek, Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese) allowed not only to confirm the hypothesis of the Latin source, but also showed that it is strongly linked to the branch of Codex 996 of the Mazarine Library in Paris, of Franciscan origin, although this was not its model.