Clementius - de Patria Potestate - 1571

The Law of the Father: Domestic Authority Between Law, Theology, and Natural Order
A rare juridical-doctrinal work from the full Cinquecento, dedicated to the theme of patria potestas as the foundation of civil, moral, and natural order. The volume is situated at the heart of the Counter-Reformation reflection on domestic power, understood not only as a Roman legal institution but as an organizing principle of Christian society. Through an intertwining of civil law, canon law, and moral theology, the work constructs a coherent system in which the figure of the father becomes a reduced image of sovereign and divine authority. The Venetian edition testifies to the normative and pedagogical function of the legal book in the second Cinquecento.
Market value
The market value for sixteenth-century Venetian legal works dedicated to family law and patria potestas, in original editions and in structurally sound condition, is roughly estimated between 500 and 1,000 euros. The valuation largely depends on the completeness of the copy, the freshness of the pages, and the stability of the binding. Copies with widespread defects but still complete tend to fall into the lower mid-range; particularly clean or well-preserved copies can be valued at the higher end of the estimate.

Physical description and condition
Old binding in floppy parchment, smooth spine with traces of manuscript writing. Pages with some browning and humidity stains. Presence of woodcut initials and typographic ornaments. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (2); 88nn; 440; (2).

Full title and author
Treatise on Parental Power
Venice, published by the heirs of Melchior Sessa, 1571.
Acanus Clementinus

Context and Significance
The treatise on patria potestas occupies a central place in the legal culture of the early modern period, as it defines the boundaries of paternal authority in relation to the State, the Church, and the natural order. In the post-Tridentine age, this theme takes on a crucial ideological significance: the family is conceived as the primary cell of Christian society, and the father as the guarantor of moral and disciplinary orthodoxy. The work reflects this systemic vision, blending Roman law with canonical tradition and theological interpretation, in a framework that anticipates the great modern codifications of family law.

Biography of the Author
Acanus Clementinus was a jurist active in the 16th century, author of commentaries and treatises dedicated to civil and canon law. His work fits within the late humanist doctrinal tradition, characterized by a systematic approach to Roman sources and a strong focus on the moral and social implications of the law.

Printing history and circulation
Venetian printed edition in Venice, at the heirs of Melchior Sessa, dated 1571. The Sessa workshop, one of the most active and longstanding in Venice, was a key player in the dissemination of legal and theological books in the second half of the 16th century. The work falls within the specialized production intended for jurists, ecclesiastics, and scholars of canon law. Collation, format, and total number of pages: to be verified on the specimen.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
EDIT16, entry related to the Venetian edition of the Tractatus de Patria Potestate.
Brunet, Manual for the bookseller and the book lover, sections of law.
Adams, Catalogue of Books Printed on the Continent of Europe, XVI Century.