Description
A beautifully bound copy in top quality morocco of this finely printed edition of Alamanni’s didactic poem on agriculture. An Italian statesman and poet, Luigi Alamanni (1495-1556) studied philosophy in Florence and attended gatherings at the Orti Oricellari, a famous meeting place for the Florentine social and intellectual élite and an anti-Medicean circle. Here, he became friends with Machiavelli. In 1522, after participating in an unsuccessful conspiracy against Giulio de’ Medici (afterwards Pope Clement VII), he fled to France and became one of the leading poets at the court of King Francis I.
‘La Coltivazione’ is Alemanni’s most celebrated and famous work, dedicated to King Francis I and first published in Paris by Robert Estienne in 1546. Drawing inspiration from Vergil’s Georgics, Rucellai’s ‘Api’ (= bees) and Columella’s Latin works on agronomy, in this didactic poem Alemanni describes everything concerning cultivation and rustic life. The work is divided into six books and elegantly written in ‘versi sciolti’, namely hendecasyllables without rhyme. “This poem has preserved a considerable reputation, from the great purity and elegance of the style, as well as from the methodical arrangement and the sagacity of its agricultural precepts” (Simonde de Sismondi).
The fine red morocco binding is similar in style to the bindings made by the Derome le Jeune (1731-1788, see Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana n. 17) and Louis Doceur (d. 1769; see ‘Louis Doceur 1746’ on Cyclopaedia.org). Two exceptionally skilful craftsmen, they are among the most celebrated eighteen century French binders: their richly gilt and decorated bindings were sought after and expensive. The inner dentelle motif and the small dot tool with a cross appear almost identical to a binding signed by Antoine Durand (active c. 1765, see ‘Antoine Durand 1769’ on Cyclopaedia.org for a similar binding sold at Christies in 2004). The design of the compartments on the spine is also very similar. Master bookbinder from 1765, Durand married the daughter of the king’s bookbinder, Guillaume Mercier. “Durand was named official binder of the Royal Library as well as binder for the city of Paris, he went on to become the binder of the comte de Artois and the duc d’Angoulême […]. This signifies that he was a busy and successful binder who also moved in Royal circles” (Cyclopaedia.org).
This copy is from the library of the engraver and printer Wilfred Merton (1888-1957), who was also an avid book and manuscript collector specialising in rare Oriental printing and papyri.
