Inicio 5 Event 5 Al-Andalus Chair. The collection of Arabic manuscripts of the Royal Library of El Escorial'.

Al-Andalus Chair. The collection of Arabic manuscripts of the Royal Library of El Escorial'.

Details

  • Start: 25 February 2016
  • End: 26 February 2016

The lecture will provide an overview of the Royal Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, taking into account its various rooms, shelves and workplaces. The origin and formation of the various non-Arabic collections will be discussed, listing some of the main works in the bibliographic collection.

During the course of the exhibition, consideration will be given to Philip II's decision to include Arab manuscripts in his collections, promoting the scientific value of Arab culture by collecting all kinds of codices from the Muslim world. Although some 2,500 Arabic codices perished in the fire of 1671, around 2,000 are still preserved today. The most notable of these codices are the Koran of Muley Zaydan; ms. 1623: Hispano-Visigothic Councils; the magnificent copy n. 898: Animal utilitiesetc.

Since its beginnings, the library, also known as the Escurialense or the Laurentian, has been an excellent repository of Arabic manuscripts. From the time the first manuscripts were acquired in 1571 to the present day, a multitude of works can be seen on its shelves.

In conclusion, the contents, arrangement and historical cataloguing of these collections will be taken into account, as well as conservation work and ongoing projects.

José Luis del Valle Merino has been director of the Royal Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Laurentina) since 1994. During this period he has published five volumes of the Catalogue of printed material from the Royal Library of El Escorial from the 16th to the 18th centuries. and has directed the publication in one volume of the Incunabula catalogue of the same library. He has also composed the texts and organised the Laurentian website. In the academic field, he has taught courses at several universities and, in particular, he has been director for twelve years, as well as professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Language, at the Escurialense theological centre linked to the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical University of Salamanca.

Free admission until full capacity is reached.