Lodovico Dolce - Osservationi - 1568

Observe to judge: Dolce and the birth of modern literary criticism.
Lodovico Dolce's Observations constitute one of the most representative texts of critical reflection during the full Venetian Renaissance, where the practice of reading and literary judgment transforms into a true intellectual method. In this work, which was repeatedly reprinted, expanded, and corrected by the author, the act of observing is not merely erudite annotation but an active exercise of discernment, capable of integrating classical authority, rhetorical practice, and modern sensitivity. The Venetian edition of 1568, here presented in its seventh revision in four books, offers a mature and systematic form of Dolce's project, conceived as a lively repository of examples, norms, and discussions. The volume thus stands at the crossroads between literary theory, moral education, and figurative culture, fully reflecting the Venetian ideal of useful, communicable knowledge grounded in direct experience of texts.
Market value
Sixteenth-century editions of Lodovico Dolce's Osservationi are firmly present in the European antiquarian market. Copies from the second half of the 16th century, in sixteenth format and in similar conditions to those described here, generally range in price from 200 to 500 euros. Higher valuations are reserved for particularly fresh, complete, well-preserved copies in contemporary binding, especially if they lack significant structural defects.

Physical description and condition
Next binding in rigid parchment. Typographic mark on the frontispiece. Presence of some stains, galleries of woodworm that do not touch the incision on some pages, foxing and widespread browning, consistent with the age of the volume and its long circulation. In old books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present that are not always noted in the description. Pages: (2), 16 unnumbered, 240, (2).

Full title and author
Observations of M. Lodovico Dolce. Books IV.
Vinegia, published by Domenico Farri, 1568.
Lodovico Dolce

Context and Significance
The Osservationi originate as a close dialogue with classical tradition but develop into a true laboratory of Renaissance taste. In the four books, Dolce addresses issues of language, style, poetics, and literary judgment, proposing a reading model based on direct experience of texts and on the balance between imitation of the ancients and modern freedom. The success of the work, evidenced by numerous reprints and revisions, reflects the widespread need for critical tools accessible in the vernacular, capable of shaping conscious readers. This seventh edition, expanded and corrected by the author himself, presents a mature version of his thought, fully embedded in the intellectual climate of Venice's editorial scene in the second half of the sixteenth century.

Biography of the Author
Lodovico Dolce was born in Venice in 1508 and died there in 1568. A humanist, writer, translator, and polygraph among the most prolific of his time, he was deeply embedded in the Venetian printing environment, collaborating with some of the city's most important publishers. Active in the fields of literature, visual arts, history, and morality, he played a decisive role in spreading humanistic knowledge in the vernacular language, serving as a key mediator between learned culture and the non-specialist educated public.

Printing history and circulation
Published for the first time in the central years of the 16th century, the Osservationi experienced wide and lasting circulation. The numerous subsequent editions, often declared as revised, expanded, and supplemented with additions, attest to the constant interest of the public and the author's desire to update and refine the text. The 1568 edition, printed in Venice by Domenico Farri, is among the last directly curated by Dolce, shortly before his death, and represents one of the most complete versions of the work.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
EDIT16, CNCE.
G. Aquilecchia, Lodovico Dolce, and the Venetian culture of the sixteenth century.
V. Branca, Humanism and Publishing in Venice during the Renaissance.