Enea Vico – Le Imagini delle Donne Auguste – Original Engraved Title Page – Venice 1557
A superb original Renaissance engraved title page dating from 1557, from the first edition of Enea Vico’s important work on the women of the Roman imperial families and their representation upon ancient coins and medals.
The complete title is:
LE IMAGINI DELLE DONNE AVGVSTE INTAGLIATE IN ISTAMPA DI RAME; CON LE VITE, ET ISPOSITIONI DI ENEA VICO SOPRA I RIVERSI DELLE LORO MEDAGLIE ANTICHE. LIBRO PRIMO.
At the foot is the original Venetian imprint:
IN VINEGIA APPRESSO ENEA VICO PARMIGIANO ET VINCENZO VALGRISIO, ALL’INSEGNA D’ERASMO. M.D.LVII.
M.D.LVII = 1557.
The title is surrounded by a magnificent and extremely detailed Renaissance architectural composition incorporating:
The result is one of the most decorative leaves from the book and an exceptionally attractive example of mid-sixteenth-century Italian engraving.
Enea Vico (1523–1567) was an Italian engraver, antiquarian and numismatic scholar from Parma.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art records him as both author and illustrator of Le Imagini delle Donne Auguste and identifies the original publication as Venice, 1557.
The book was an important early study of the women of the Roman imperial families, using ancient medals and coins as sources for their portraits, biographies and iconography.
A complete copy contained 63 full-page engraved portraits derived from ancient medals, together with additional numismatic illustrations.
The reverse retains the original printed privilege statement, beginning:
“Con Privilegio del Papa / Di Carlo V. Imperadore / Di Filippo Re di Spagna, d’Inghilterra, & di Napoli…”
and continuing with other political authorities.
This is important evidence that the engraving survives as the original title leaf from the 1557 book, rather than merely as a later impression taken from the title plate.
Good overall condition for an original engraving approaching 470 years old.
The principal engraved side remains highly attractive and substantially complete, retaining a strong, detailed impression.
There is general age-toning, light scattered spotting and minor surface marking.
The reverse shows extensive old mounting/conservation work, including numerous small paper repair tabs, hinges and areas of reinforcement. There is associated staining and marking. These historic repairs are considerably less apparent from the principal engraved side.
Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.
Artist / Author: Enea Vico
Work: Le imagini delle donne auguste
Edition: First Edition
Publishers: Enea Vico Parmigiano and Vincenzo Valgrisi
Place: Venice
Date: 1557
Size: approximately 15.2 x 20.9 cm
Medium: Original copper engraving
Language: Italian
Subject: Roman empresses / Roman imperial women / numismatics / ancient coins / classical antiquity
Original: Yes – an original 1557 book title leaf, not a modern reproduction
Location: MAP DRAWER A SLEEVE B101
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