1470 ca, 17x24 cm,
999 copies
ISBN 978-88-86251-84-6
Price: € 2.500,00
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DE SPHAERA
the most beautiful astrological book of the Italian Renaissance
Illuminated manuscript on parchment (1470 c.), 17 × 24 cm, made up of
16 sheets forming a 32 page book. Of these, 7 are red ink framed blank
pages, 15 fully illuminated, 9 with astronomical drawings and one with
a table of climates. The text, in Italian, is in semi-Gothic copyist
script in red, sepia and light blue ink.
The De Sphaera is unanimously
regarded as the most beautiful astrological book of the Italian
Renaissance. It was illuminated by a refined artist of the Lombard
school (thought to be Cristoforo de Predis) for the Milan court and
reached the Estense in Ferrara via the frequent artistic and cultural
exchanges between them and the Sforza.
The codex sums up, with
an unparalleled elegance, the astrological knowledge of its time and
testifies the renewed authority, the reputation enjoyed by faith in the
stars – a fashion and a culture at the same time – in the most powerful
and refined courts. The De Sphaera adds its personal, superlative touch
– with the splendour of its illuminated pages and the rhyming verses of
its horoscopes – to a field, that of planet and zodiac iconography,
which was already successful.
The facsimile edition of the codex
is printed on a special paper that looks very similar to the original parchment; a gold embossed
decoration is heat impressed. The kidskin binding is stamped with the
Visconti-Sforza coat-of-arms. The 120 page commentary contains a study
by Ernesto Milano and essays by Leandro Ventura and Giancarlo
Malacarne. This is a world exclusive edition of 999 numbered and
certified copies.
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