Jean BARCLAY
Argenis, figuris aeneis adillustrata, suffixo clave, hoc est, nominum propriorum explicatione, atque indice locupletissimo
impensis B. W. M. Endter • Julius Arnold Engelbrecht|Noribergae [Nuremberg] • (Nuremberg) [1672]|8.50 x 14 cm|relié
The first edition was published in Paris in 1621. This Nuremberg edition, illustrated with 36 unsigned figures and a frontispiece is rare. Each figure is accompanied by a caption.
Contemporary marbled full calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Red morocco title label. Joints, headcaps and corners restored.
The writer Jean Barclay (1582-1621) was born in Pont-à-Mousson and died in Rome (he was invited by the pope and pensioned), he was educated by the Jesuits, then left for England with his father. Argenis is his principal and most famous work (1621), it is a long political novel, a utopia in the classical sense in which the great figures of the time parade. The narration is similar to Latin novels of the 5th century and to L'Astrée (in this sense it is typical of the first half of the 17th century), the characters, Argenis and Polyarque are found in Calderon or Du Ryer. The work was read throughout Europe and was much admired by Richelieu, Pope, Leibniz, Grotius, Coleridge...
Contemporary marbled full calf binding. Decorated smooth spine. Red morocco title label. Joints, headcaps and corners restored.
The writer Jean Barclay (1582-1621) was born in Pont-à-Mousson and died in Rome (he was invited by the pope and pensioned), he was educated by the Jesuits, then left for England with his father. Argenis is his principal and most famous work (1621), it is a long political novel, a utopia in the classical sense in which the great figures of the time parade. The narration is similar to Latin novels of the 5th century and to L'Astrée (in this sense it is typical of the first half of the 17th century), the characters, Argenis and Polyarque are found in Calderon or Du Ryer. The work was read throughout Europe and was much admired by Richelieu, Pope, Leibniz, Grotius, Coleridge...
€900