Emblematum Libellus.

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Creator

Alciati, Andrea.

Title

Emblematum Libellus.

Publisher

Venice: The Sons of Aldus,

Date

after 1 June 1546.

Description


On a very different scale from the Poliphilo shown nearby, this illustrated “little book of emblems” compiled by Andrea Alciati (1492–1550) is the only emblem book printed in Italy in the 16th century. Each page contains an allegorical or mythological representation, accompanied by a few explicatory verses meant to encourage introspection. The woodcuts contained in this book influenced artists throughout the Renaissance and beyond. Shown here is the familiar image of the three Graces, later copied by such artists as Botticelli, Raphael, and Rubens.

Source

From the collection of G. Scott Clemons.