V. Changing the concept of illustration

Claude Paradin, Gabriele Simeoni. Symbola heroica… in Latinam conversa. – Anvers: Christophe Plantin, 1583. In-16.

This volume is a perfect example of an illustrated book used as medium for an album amicorum, a collection of signatures and marks of esteem that students gathered from friends and professors in the various universities that they attended, especially in the Empire where the denominational divisions led to the opening of new universities.

   The vogue of friendship books followed in parallel with that of books of emblems and mottoes, which are especially suitable to this use: designed in 16° format, they can be easily carried, and copies are often, as here, interfoliated to participate in the game of the album amicorum.

   The copy on display was thus enriched between 1589 and 1593 by some forty dedications in the form of painted coats of arms, accompanied by mottos and texts in prose or verse. For the most part, the dedication is appended facing a woodcut, purposefully chosen to echo a characteristic feature of the album’s owner.

Cultura Fonds: CS 316