Hilarii Pictavorum / Erasmus - Lucubrationes ... Des. Erasmum Rot. - 1544

Carola Guillard and the Art of the Book, Between Images of Dragons and Celestial Philology
One of the most fascinating sixteenth-century editions of the works of Ilario of Poitiers, published in 1544 by the Parisian workshop of Carola Guillard, keeper of a rare and precious feminine typographic heritage. The types, historiated initials, dragons, and symbolic creatures transform this collection of meditations into a theological and philological theater where patristic authority and humanistic erudition meet.
At the center of the volume, beyond the theological strength of the bishop of Poitiers, vibrates the critical legacy of Erasmus of Rotterdam, whose work on previous Hilian editions provided the most influential textual basis of the 16th century. His revisions, carried out with rigorous philological method, reorganized often corrupted manuscript traditions and restored a readable, coherent Ilario, closer to his original voice. Guillard's edition fully embraces this effort, presenting it in a typographical style of great charm: historiated initials inhabited by dragons, human figures, and vegetal symbols, like small signs of a transforming spiritual and intellectual world. The result is a work in which ancient theology meets Erasmusian humanism and the refined Parisian book art, shaping an object that is both a doctrinal monument, a historical artifact, and a tool for meditation.
Market value
Comparable copies of sixteenth-century editions of the works of Ilario of Poitiers, printed in Paris between 1540 and 1550 and in unrestored bindings, fluctuate on the international market within a typical range of 900 to 1,200 euros, with higher prices when the condition is excellent or when the bindings are original and intact. An important edition by a leading printer.

Physical description and condition
In-folio. Card (1); 264; 7nn. (1). Painted cardboard binding, signs of wear and missing parts, five-ribbed spine, red label with gold title. Contains numerous illuminated initials with dragons, human figures, floral and zoomorphic elements. About 20 pages with marked humidity traces at the margins. Small ex libris with arms at the frontispiece. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.

Full title and author
D. Hilarii Pictavorum Episcopi's writings, formerly corrected with no small effort by Des. Erasmum Rot., now again reviewed. In Paris, from the workshop of Carolae Guillard, 1544.
Authors and editors: Hilarius Pictavensis; Desiderius Erasmus (editor); Carola Guillard (publisher); Ludovicus Miraeus, Michael Scutarius, and other scholars cited in the editorial tradition.

Context and Significance
Hilary of Poitiers, one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church, represents a unique figure in the history of late antique theology: philosopher, exegete, and poet, capable of dense, sometimes visionary prose, and of a highly speculative thought. His reflections, as they were called during the Renaissance, were considered essential study texts for theological formation, especially in the anti-Arian debate. The 1544 edition reflects the Renaissance revival of patristic studies, influenced by Erasmus's philological work, which, through his revisions, contributed to a more solid restoration of the text. The decorative apparatus with dragons, fantastic figures, and zoomorphic initials is not only ornamental: it is part of the symbolic language of French typography of the period, aimed at emphasizing the spiritual complexity of the content. The work thus stands at the intersection of philology, spirituality, and book art, making each copy a testament to the intellectual culture of 16th-century Paris.

Biography of the Author
Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315–367) was one of the most important Latin theologians of antiquity, known for his works against Arianism and for the depth of his exegetical and dogmatic writings. Bishop of Poitiers, exiled for his opposition to Arianism, he authored fundamental texts such as De Trinitate. He is venerated as a Doctor of the Church.

Biography of Erasmus of Rotterdam
Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466/69–1536), a Dutch humanist, theologian, and philologist, was one of the central figures of Europe's intellectual scene in the early 16th century. A master of Greek and Latin, he promoted a return to Christian sources through rigorous philological study of texts, advocating for an inner Christianity based on knowledge and moderation. His critical edition of the Greek New Testament (1516) marked the beginning of a new era in biblical studies, while his revisions of patristic texts—including those dedicated to Hilary of Poitiers—set editorial standards that would endure. An independent spirit, distant both from scholastic rigidity and confessional extremism, Erasmus embodied the ideal of the European humanist: free, curious, committed to restoring textual truth through disciplined methodology. His editions, circulated throughout Europe, profoundly influenced the religious and literary culture of the 16th century. A volume that embodies the intersection of devotion, exegesis, and book art, reflecting the thought of the great bishop-poet through a visually and spiritually powerful editorial presentation.

Printing history and circulation
The edition belongs to the mature production of Carola Guillard's workshop, one of the most authoritative Parisian printers of the 16th century, active from around 1537 until 1556 and known for the high philological and typographic quality of her theological editions. Ilario's work had already benefited from Erasmus's revisions in the first quarter of the century; this print follows the same textual tradition while proposing further updates. Guillard's editions were distinguished by the clarity of the typefaces, the regularity of the pages, and the use of historiated initials with a wide variety of symbolism. The dissemination was mainly academic and ecclesiastical, primarily circulating in France but also exported to German and Italian areas.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Adams H-336
Rothschild II, 2189
Pettegree & Walsby, French Vernacular Books (per the Guillard workshop)
USTC (Universal Short Title Catalogue), entry related to the 1544 edition of Guillard
Dictionary of printers and booksellers of Paris in the 16th century, volume II (entry: Carola Guillard)