Francesco Guicciardini - Epitome dell'historia d'Italia - 1580

Complete title
The epitome of the history of Italy by M. Francesco Guicciardini, Books XX. With various annotations in multiple places of that history. And with the portraits of some princes drawn from his work
1580, in Venice

[8], 244, [40]

Hardcover binding in stiff card cover, internal pages in good condition and still fresh, with some light browning and without signs of humidity, mold, or woodworms.

The History of Italy mostly recounts the events from 1494 to 1534, from the descent of Charles VIII to the death of Clement VII: wars, alliances, and conflicts that transformed the peninsula into a battlefield among the major European powers. Guicciardini analyzes the decisions of rulers and the relation between personal ambition, political interests, and unforeseen consequences.

Guicciardini was one of the greatest historians and political thinkers of the Renaissance. A Florentine, trained in law, he participated directly in the diplomatic and administrative life of his time, holding important positions in the service of the Popes and the Medici.

His political experience fed a view of history attentive to concrete circumstances, to the interests of the protagonists, and to the limits of human prudence. He wrote and revised The History of Italy in the last years of his life, between 1537 and 1540. The first publication appeared posthumously, in 1561, and included only the first sixteen books.

Among the other fundamental works are the Memoranda, the Florentine Histories, the Dialog on the Government of Florence, and the Considerations on Machiavelli’s Discourses.

The role of Francesco Sansovino

Sansovino was a man of letters, compiler and editorial operator active in Venice, son of the sculptor and architect Jacopo Sansovino. His production includes historical, political, and manual works. In this volume he plays the role of mediator: he selects and abridges Guicciardini to make him accessible to a broader audience. The catalog attributes to him the care of the edition based on the preface.