Winn, Mary Beth

Anthoine Vérard, Parisian Publisher, 1485-1512 : Prologues, Poems and Presentations

      DROZ - 9782600002196 Livre usage a l'etat de neuf / Used book as new condition ############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################### Anthoine Verard dominated French book production in Paris from 1485 to 1512, publishing more than 280 editions. Skillfully maneuvering the multi-faceted role of "libraire," he achieved special renown for his in-folio volumes, printed on vellum and illuminated by the best artists of the time. For these presentation copies, Verard assumed the stance of "Acteur" of the book, proclaimed verbally in prologues which he affixed to individual copies and visually in frontispieces where the publisher is depicted as the kneeling donor. Verard composed 19 prologues, several prayers in verse, and an emblematic text for his publisher's device. All are edited and examined in this study, with reproductions of them accompanying full-page miniatures. These deluxe presentation copies reveal how the publisher prepared books for his various patrons, exploiting the dual arts of manuscript and print in order to capitalize on both commerce and patronage. Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne, Charles d'Angouleme and his wife Louise de Savoie, parents of the future Francois I, Henry VII of England, and others attracted the publisher's attention. This study explores Verard's work as "author-donor," analyzing the publisher's own words and details of the books themselves. It examines Verard's relationships with contemporary authors, artists, editors, scribes, and printers, as well as merchants and clerks, so as to illuminate the work of the first great "marchand libraire."