Q. Horati Flacci Emblemata. Imaginibus in aes incisis, notisque illustrata

Q. Horati Flacci Emblemata. Imaginibus in aes incisis, notisque illustrataThe sought-after first edition, the only edition entirely in Latin – unlike the later editions – and illustrated with 103 full-page emblems copper engraved by C. Boël and Gisbert van Veen. Portrait of Horace in a medallion to title. Leaf 48 mis-numbered 84. Several ex-dono to half-title and title. A few images of nudity have been discretely erased.
Contemporary vellum, ink title erased on spine, a small blue spot to upper cover. A little cockled. Several faint dampstains. Discreet marginal repairs to pages 107, 179 and 183.
Otto van Veen's (1550-1629) first published work. Van Veen was a Mannerist painter, Flemish art theorist and Rubens' teacher. The work is made up of two series of plates intended to elucidate the moral meaning of theatrical symbols. Each plate has a maxim in capital letters, followed by a short poetical extract as well as an explanation in the guise of an extract from Horace or other Roman writers. An important work, in which images for the first time take precedence over the text, this emblem book shows Venius' talent for bringing together the Flemish pictorial tradition with Italian Mannerism. “Is it not he, among the unfairly forgotten masters of this age, who manages best to marry the individual note of Flemish realism with the ideal flower of Italian grace?” (Charles Blanc, Histoire des peintres de toutes les écoles: Ecole ombryenne-romaine, Volume 13, 1864). In an equally innovative move, the painter preferred worldly subjects to the detriment of traditional religious images.
A rare edition of one of the most famous emblem books of the 17^th century.