Vitae Duodecim Vicemitum Mediolani Principum

Lutetiae [i.e. Paris]: Rob. Stephani [i.e. Estienne], 1549. Period Limp Vellum. Very Good. 8.75" x 6.25. Woodcut Portraits. Lutetiae [i.e. Paris]: Rob. Stephani [i.e. Estienne], 1549. 8.75" x 6.25", 199 pp. illustrated with 10 woodcut portraits. In Latin. See all scans. Period limp vellum. Some wear and discoloration to covers; marginal paper repairs to latter leaves and a few other places, mostly upper margins with a few affected characters supplied in facsimile, marginal worming to latter leaves, front pastedown with adhesion damage and glue stain, very early inked name at ffep (scan), Zamorano Club bookplate at ffep, else very good. Estienne printing of Jovius' 16th-century commentaries on the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity. One of the rarest of Paulus Jovius' notable historical accounts. Surviving copies of Jovius (born Paolo Jovio in Como, Milan, on April 19, 1483) are often found in 18th century or later bindings. The ten woodcut portraits include, among other relevant historical figures, Archibishop Otho, Ioannes Galeacius, and Barnabas, and are of quite good detail for woodcuts. Jovius was an Italian historian, author of vivid historical works in Latin, and owner of a famous art collection. In about 1513 he settled in Rome. He won the favour of Leo X (who compared him to Livy) and of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, later Clement VII, whom he helped during the sack of Rome in 1527. In 1528 Jovius became bishop of Nocera. He wrote a Latin history of Florence from 1494 to 1547, Historiarum sui temporis libri XLV (1550-52), and a series of lives of famous men. Though by modern standards-and even by comparison with some very scholarly works of his time his work lacks depth and political interest, its popularity ensued from his sparkling, elegant writing and richness of useful information. After Clement VII's death (1534), Jovius retired to a villa on Lake Como, where he invested the wealth he had acquired in antiquities, paintings, and curiosities. His collection was one of the first to include pieces from the New World. Please see all scans. L53n