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Books, Autographs & Prints

Tuesday 20 June 2023 e Wednesday 21 June 2023, 03:00 PM • Rome

186

Legatura - Manoscritto - Medici - Cosimo III de' Medici / Solari, Giuseppe

The Medici Portraits or Glories and Greatnesses of the ever sereniss. Medici House. First picture in which two figures are brushed: one of Florence, and its origins; the other of the Medici Genealogy..., 1678

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Information

Elegant paper manuscript of 52 cc., numbered 1-48, format in 4° 295 x 202 mm., written in Venice, 1678 by Giuseppe Solari, elegant cursive hand with writing mirror of approximately 202 x 125, on the frontispiece very fine watercolor drawing monochrome with the triumph of the Medici family, four drop caps finely drawn in ink, on fols. 7-8 three synthetic genealogical trees of the Medici family, BEAUTIFUL BAROQUE BINDING IN RED MOROCCAN decorated in gold with a pair of concentric frames which enclose volutes decorated with racemes, leaves, vine shoots, flowers, with inserts in dark leather, spine with 5 ribs with compartments finely decorated in gold, gilded edges, of probable NEAPOLITAN origin on Roman models (particularly the so-called  "emblematic binder").

Specialist Notes

The present volume is full of mysteries and curiosities, first of all for its unknown author, Giuseppe Solari, of whom nothing is known. Made in Venice, as stated on the title page, and however dedicated to the Medici family and in particular to Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, as can be read on cc.2-6. A very long dedication of 10 pp. aimed at celebrating the glories of the Medici family and the honor of being able to declaim them. "The flash of glories, which the serene sky of my country flashed many times with the thunderbolts of the highest wonders of another Heaven (I mean Florence) draws me to the Throne of this one with their lights, and with the deepest reverence before at the A.V. hor pushes me. This is that moment so much desired by my wishes; a moment to raise myself to the aim of a sublime Sphere; a syncope moment of my life, for the jubilation of seeing the adored face of Your Excellency. Here I shall have field of mirroring myself in the Majesty of your greatness connatural to honors, original of glory, dominatrix of the centuries.There I will decant the immense pretiosities of your Serenissima Prosapia, Mother of the luckiest Heroes in the World, Twin to the most sublime dignities; Germana rarest greatness; and therefore Heaven of the greatnesses themselves. (...)" The dedication is signed, Venice 1 October 1678. The Medici genealogical tree follows, for two pages, then the content of the work, which was to be developed in at least three Paintings. This would have been the first: "... in this first picture two Figures stand out, of which the first consists in the foundation of Florence; Government of the Republic; destruction of the same, with many wars, and victories from her (…) The second Figure shows the Medici Genealogy (…).The next two paintings, never realized, would focus on the figures of "Pontiffs, Queens, Empresses, Cardinals (…) of the Medici Prosapia" and on the "Government and the most memorable events of all the Grand Dukes up until nowadays". The third Picture, also never made, was supposed to describe "the Grandeur of Florence, the Florentine Saints, the Senators, Knights, Lawyers (...)"; while the last Picture was supposed to describe " the most precious gifts, quality, value, prudence, and mastery of the Ser.ma A COSMO III present, and of the Princes Ferdinando and Don Gastone." The mystery therefore remains as to why the project of an overall history of the Medici was interrupted here, plus portraits or "paintings" as he calls them. Some internal clues to the text suggest a precious homage to be delivered to Cosimo III or even to his sons Princes on the occasion of an official visit to Venice, therefore the field could be narrowed down to the documented visits of the reigning Medici to Venice in that few years . Ferdinando de Medici in January 1688, for example, found himself visiting Venice for a few months, in agreement with his father Cosimo. Was that the imagined opportunity to deliver this sort of "Medicean"? Because in reality this is what it is about, a celebration not in verse but in a refined and baroque prose of the Florentine dynasty. A text that should be studied, analyzed and broken down, because in addition to the happy inventive vein, which is expressed in a sparkling prose, it is also rich in analytical and in-depth documentation. Latin quotations abound, which serve to bring prestige to the family by exploiting the classic exemplum, and Solari handles all this matter with impressive ease, like a true writer. "The undertaking is difficult, as has already been said: fortune gives me the courage to do it: dedicating it to a Grand Duke causes me to finish here, and here together I begin."  The result is an intriguing text, preserved in its precious dedication binding. Everything to study.


Condition report

To request a Condition Report, please contact libriestampe@finarte.it The department will provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that what Finarte declares with respect to the state of conservation of the objects corresponds only to a qualified opinion and that we are not professional conservators or restorers. We urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. We always suggest prospective buyers to inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition during the exhibition days as indicated in the catalog.