Lodovico Dolce/Virgile - L’Enea - 1568

DOLCE, LODOVICO.
L'Enea by M. Lodovico Dolce drawn from Virgil's Aeneid, To the Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir Don Francesco de Medici, Prince of Florence and of Siena. Venice: Giovanni Varisco & partners, 1568.
In-4°. Full rigid vellum of the period, smooth spine with a gilt title piece.

Complet in 1 volume in-4 : (1) fI. blank; 130 pp.; (2) fI.

Original and unique edition of this free poetic adaptation in ottava rima (octaves) of Virgil's Aeneid by the famous Venetian humanist, poet and polygraph Lodovico Dolce (1508–1568). Dedicated to Prince Francesco de’ Medici (future Grand Duke of Tuscany), this work represents one of Dolce's final successes, published in the year of his death.

The typographic and woodcut illustration is remarkable: each canto opens with an imposing wood-engraved cartouche in a Mannerist style housing the summary (Argomento), complemented by very beautiful engraved initial letters depicting mythological and biblical scenes. The title page is adorned with the famous two-tailed-mermaid mark from Giovanni Varisco's workshop.

Period binding in full vellum, well preserved with natural patina, corners and spine ends solid, minor wear from use without serious consequence. Interior on XVIth-century laid paper, clear impression of the woodcuts, light pale dampstains in the upper margin of the title page and the first leaves not affecting legibility. Fine copy, well complete.

Lodovico Dolce was one of the most prolific authors of the Italian Renaissance, working tirelessly for the great Venetian printers (notably Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari and Varisco). He maintained a fierce literary rivalry with Pietro Aretino (L'Arétin) and especially with Annibal Caro.

While Annibal Caro translated the Aeneid into free verse, Dolce decided to publish his own version in rhymed octaves (the epic-stanza popularized by Ariosto's Orlando Furioso) to make it more dynamic and accessible to the Italian courts!

Published in 1568, just a few months before Dolce's death, the book was acclaimed by bibliophiles as the “swan song” of the great Venetian publisher-author.