farfel_n01_076_033

Some minor typographical variations are known inthis
work, which are indications of state rather than issue.

F. Columna wrote this work as a memorial of his unhappy
love for Polia. He had written the book at Treviso
in 1467. Its publication in 1499 was paid for by one
Leonardo Crasso of Verona.

A. Manutius Virgil Opera Venice 1501 - 1st book by
Aldus in his newly invented italic type.

Hypnerotomachia - an allegory of remarkable subtlety in which
Poliphilo's pursuit of his lost love in a dream symbolizes
mans' striving after unattainable spiritual ideals.

Born in 1450 at Bassiano neat Velletri, Aldus studied at Rome
under the 2 famous scholars, Gaspar of Verona & Domizio
Calderini. From 1481 to 84, he was the guest of Count Pico
della Mirandola. The friendship of this noble family bought
unforeseen advantages & proved a major factor in the
life of Aldies, for he was appointed tutor to Pico's nephews,
Albertus & Leonellus Pius, Princes of Capri. He so inspired
these pupils, that in later years the elder, Albertus, provided
the money with which to found the Aldine Preso. The 1st
books came out in 1494. By that time many of the Latin
classics were already in print; therefore the majority of Aldus's
books were in Greek.

Geroge Painter - "the Hypnerotomachia is radiantly & graciously Italian, classic,
pagan & renascent."

Treatise on the theory of art & resthetics in the form of an allegorical
love story, much influenced by the architectural works of Vitruvius
& Alberti. The most celebrated illustrated book of the Italian
Renaissance. The artist may have been Benedetto Bordone.
The authorship has also been much discussed & is traditionally
given to the debauched Dominican Friar, F. Colonna, but
Fra Elisco of Treviso has been convincingly advanced
(fl. 15th C.)

Besides the purely imaginative illust. there is a series of reproductions
of Greek & Latin inscriptions which constitute the earliest corpus of
this original source material.