Natalis Comitis (1520-1582)

MYTHOLOGIAE SIVE EXPLICATIONIS FABULARUM LIBRI DECEM. IN QUIBUS OMNIA PROPE NATURALIS ET MORALIS PHILOSOPHIAE DOGMATA IN VETERUM FABULIS CONTENTA FUISSE PERSPICUE DEMONSTRATUR.[...] ACCESSIT G. LONOCERII MUASRUM MYTHOLOGIA [...] ADIECTAE SUNT INSUPER NOVISSIMAE HUIC POST GERMANICA ET GALLICAM EDITIONI ELEGANTISSIMAE DEORUM IMAGINES ET ERUDITISSIMA MYTHOLOGIE M. ANTONIJ TRITONII UTINENSIS. OMNIA SUMMO STUDIO ET EXQUISITO LABORE EMENDATA. Patavii, apud Petrum paulum Tozzium, 1616 FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITIONComplete with the Folding Tableof 'Mythological Heavens'.

      "Description : [in 4to] - pp. (44), 614, (2), 60, (b). Iconography : 103 woodcut ill. in text and 1 folding plan of the Mythological Heavens.MYTHOLOGY. ILLUSTRATED XVIIth Century EDITION. A very important edition of the most influential mythography of the late renaissance and the whole baroque period which was used as a source by Ronsard, as well as by Chapman and others. The author Natalis Comitis (or Natale Conti) was a humanist and historian, (1520-1582). Born in Milan, studied in Venice and was a preceptor of Francesco Panigarola. Among other works he composed for Cosimo de Medici a poem in hexameters on the Hours of the Day (Le ore del Giorno) and translated many classical works. The present Mythologia Sive Explicatione Fabularum, here in its first illustrated edition is definitely his most famous work and most celebrated piece of his production. Comiti´s Mythologia was printed for the first time in 1551 by Aldus Manutius without illustrations. The many dedication to Charles IX suggest the author´s presence in France at the Kings court, during its composition, as a matter of fact the work had an immediate and long lasting fortune in France right from its debut. Conti's collection of myths and fables gathered from hundreds of classical texts was in fact extremely popular throughout the whole of Europe at the time. Thematically arranged, the ten books encompass many topics and include among other things also a book on "" The origin of the Olympic Games and other competitions"" (libro V) . Compared to other authors of mythology of his time, Comitis puts much more emphasis on greek sources included in epigrams, idylls and other literary compositions and prefer a divulgative approach more connected to literary models than a purely philological style. In the introduction, in fact, there is a long and detailed paragraph on the meaning of antique fables and the methods used for their composition. Also inside the book, differently from other authors like Cartari and Giraldi, there are many allegorical explanations of the myths encompassing both historical and moral exegesis with neoplatonic nuances offering a markedly different perspective compared to those of other writers. Very nice copy in good antiquarian conditions, internally fine, with minor foxing, large woodcut printer’s device on title-page, printed in double ink red and black. The book is complete with the folding plate of the heavens, often missing in this work, and its imposing iconographic apparatus consisting of over 100 wonderfully carved woodcut illustrations in the text. Many decorated initials, head and tail pieces. Well preserved contemporary vellum binding, with handwritten ink title on spine. Wonderfully illustrated XVII century editionNice copy in good antiquarian conditionsCfr.: MULRYAN, BROWN Natale Conti's Mythologiae in Medieval and renaissance texts and studies; 2006, v.316 ; OLSCHKI, Choix, 13234. EBERT, 5037 ; GOLDSMITH, C-1436. Souhart, 345. DBI, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, XXVIII, p. 455 ; TIRABOSCHI, Storia della letteratura italiana, Milano, (1826) , VII, pp. 1239-1242."