BAPTISTA MANTUANUS

In Robertum Severinatem panegyricum carmen

      Jacopo Pencio, Venice 1499 - Modern paper covered boards Small 4to . Beautifully printed edition of this collection of poetry by the eminent Italian humanist and poet Baptista Mantuanus (1448-1516) which was first published at Bologna in 1489. The work includes his Somnium Romanum (C1v-D7v), the Carmen dedicated to D. Falconem protonotarium, plus shorter poems (D7v- G4v). "Mantuanus was a prolific poet and enjoyed enormous popularity both in Italy and in northern Europe. His poetry was especially prized for its combination of Christian material with classical forms . His reputation was high among Erasmus' friends. . [also] Erasmus' attitude towards Mantuanus was a very positive one. He admired his style and his treatment of Christian subjects. He referred to the Italian as a 'Christian Virgil' " (Contemporaries of Erasmus, II, p. 375). The author's collection of ten Latin eclogues (Adulescentia) was perhaps his most influential work for its profound effect on English literature in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, from Shakespeare and Spencer to Milton. From the collection of the famous Florentine bookseller and publisher Leo S. Olschki with his book plate [100] pp. Roman type; spaces for capitals with guide letters; few faint marginal damp marks. Very nice copy. With book plate of "Leo S. Olschki, Firenze" § BMC, V, p. 565 (IA.24532); Goff B-87; GW 3260; Hain 2396. [Attributes: Hard Cover]