Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri - La Bibbia di Borso d'Este - 1455-1961

BIBBIA DI BORSO D’ESTE – THE MASTERPIECE ILLUMINATED OF THE RENAISSANCE, IN TWO MONUMENTAL VOLUMES One of the most extraordinary artistic undertakings of the Italian Renaissance comes to life again in this monumental, complete reproduction of the Borso d’Este Bible. Two imposing folio volumes, bound in red Morocco leather, adorned with gold decorations and a refined metal boss, restore the splendor of the famous fourteenth-century manuscript. An exceptionally visually captivating work, testimony to the magnificence of the Este court and the excellence of Italian illumination. Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri (1877–1961), industrialist, patron and publisher, played a fundamental role in recovering the original Bible, purchased in 1923 and subsequently donated to the Italian State. Adolfo Venturi (1856–1941), one of the founders of modern Italian art history, devoted important studies to the national figurative heritage. ABSTRACT Prestigious, complete facsimile edition of the Borso d’Este Bible, promoted and curated by Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri, accompanied by documents and a historical-artistic study by Adolfo Venturi. Two large folio volumes, with magnificent reproductions of the original miniatures, luxurious editorial bindings in red Morocco, gold decorations, metal studs, and original cases covered in velvet. An important editorial achievement dedicated to one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts of the Fifteenth Century. WHY TO BUY - Complete reproduction of one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance illumination. - Prestigious edition, promoted by Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri. - Two monumental volumes in red Morocco with gold decorations and ornamental studs. - Exceptional iconographic apparatus, of great artistic, bibliographic and collectible interest. MARKET VALUE A valuable work intended for collectors of facsimiles, for the study of Renaissance art history, and for specialized libraries. The commercial value mainly depends on the completeness of the two volumes, the condition of the bindings, and the presence of the original cases. 1,000 – 1,200 Euro PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION Two volumes in imperial folio. Editorial bindings in red Morocco with gold impressions and piping on the boards, central metallic ornamental stud in silvered and gold metal, hand-finished, spines with raised bands, titles and coats of arms impressed in gold, flyleaves in silk and gilded top edges. Original velvet-covered boxes. Internally, magnificent full-color reproductions of the fourteenth-century miniatures, with historiated initials, floral friezes, allegorical figures, animals, coats of arms and decorations on a gold background. Volume I: [10] preliminary pages, 311 leaves, [3] leaves, 26 color plates. Volume II: [7] preliminary pages, 292 leaves, [4] pages, 54 pages numbered 17–70, [8] pages, 24 color plates. FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR La Bibbia di Borso d’Este. Riproduzione integrale promossa e curata da Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri, con documenti e studio storico-artistico di Adolfo Venturi. Bergamo, Banca Popolare di Bergamo e Poligrafiche Bolis, 1961. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE The Borso d’Este Bible represents one of the absolute peaks of Italian manuscript illumination in the 15th century. Commissioned by Borso d’Este, lord of Ferrara and later Duke of Modena and Reggio and Duke of Ferrara, it was created between 1455 and 1461 in the Este court’s artistic milieu. The original manuscript, today housed at the Estense University Library in Modena, is renowned for the extraordinary richness of its decorations and for the harmonious fusion of painting, calligraphy and ornament. Its pages bear witness to Humanist culture and the political ambitions of the Este dynasty, which used artistic patronage as a tool of prestige and representation. The 1961 reproduction allows appreciation of the entire iconographic cycle of a masterpiece otherwise accessible only to scholars. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY Borso d’Este (1413–1471), son of Niccolò III d’Este, was a key figure in court culture in 15th-century Italy. Under his rule Ferrara experienced an extraordinary era of artistic splendor. The Bible bearing his name represents one of the most ambitious bibliographic commissions of the period. Important miniaturists contributed to its realization, including Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. PRINTING HISTORY The 1961 edition represents one of the most prestigious Italian initiatives for facsimile reproduction of manuscript heritage. Published in Bergamo by Banca Popolare di Bergamo and Poligrafiche Bolis, it was conceived to reproduce in full the magnificence of the original Bible. The choice of large format, color reproductions, and sumptuous editorial bindings aimed to create a monumental work worthy of the Renaissance manuscript. The edition also stands as a testament to the Italian tradition of 20th-century art publishing. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adolfo Venturi, La Bibbia di Borso d’Este, studio storico-artistico in the 1961 edition; Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler; Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, entries on Borso d’Este, Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. Old books and works of merit may present imperfections, blemishes, foxing, irregularities, and signs of use compatible with age and production methods. This listing contains AI Visuals for illustrative purposes. Refer to the original photographs to verify the object’s actual condition. The images are an integral part of the description.

Estimate:$785.85

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