DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56004#0011
A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF WOODCUTS
IN THE
DREAM OF POLIPHILUS
(“ Poliphili Hypnerotomachia,’’ Venice, 1499.)
The following pages contain brief descriptions of 168 woodcuts in the “ Dream of Poliphilus,”
reproduced by the photo-lithographic process from the first Aldine edition. They have been
prepared in order that the fac-similes may not to many appear as a collection of unintelligible
and extravagant, though beautiful, designs ; and those readers who may wish to know something
more about Colonna’s singular romance, are referred to the annotated literal French translation
by Claudius Popelin. We have found this translation helpful. We must, however, also acknowledge
that we are much indebted to Albert Ilg for the valuable hints he gives in his ingenious
treatise on the Hypnerotomachia, although some of our explanations differ from his.
1. —Poliphilus entering, “with great feare, into a darke obscure and unfrequented wood” (as
the old English version of 1592 hath it.) He wears a round skull-cap upon his richly curled head,
and has the lower part of his long gown tucked under his right arm.
2. —-Poliphilus, who has emerged from the dark wood, is kneeling by the side of a rivulet, and
upon the point of refreshing himself from its waters, when his attention is suddenly arrested by a
wondrously sweet song.
3. —Poliphilus sleeping under a tree ; in the background wooded hills. This woodcut is
marked .b. in the right hand corner at the bottom.
4. —Poliphilus surrounded by remains of classical antiquity—a richly ornamented fragment of
an architrave, a corslet, a Corinthian capital, and the base of a column. Behind Poliphilus, near
a group of palm-trees, we see a ferocious wolf which, however, is flying before him. In the
foreground, a lizard and some plants.
5. —A huge pyramidic temple, of white Parian marble, with 1410 steps, dedicated to the
Sun ; it is surmounted by a marvellous obelisk of Syenite marble, with a winged female figure at
the top, holding a cornucopia in her right hand, and with her robes floating in the air. This figure
is made so as to turn with the slightest breeze.
6. —A colossal and large-winged bronze horse, upon a pedestal, with charming little genii
climbing upon its back or tumbling down from it.
7 and 8.—The two ends of the pedestal of the bronze horse ; one decorated with a garland of
marjoram and ferns, the other with a garland of orpine. The inscriptions are—Deis Ambiguis
dedicatus, and Equus infoelicitatis.
9. —One of thesides ofthe pedestal ofthe bronzehorse, with a reliefof two-faced youthsandnymphs
dancing. The front-faces of these dancers are supposed to be laughing, the back ones weeping.
10. —The other side of the pedestal. A similar representation. A young man, in the costume
of a Roman warrior, crowned with a wreath, distributes flowers among the young couples, which
another youth is plucking for him.
11. —Saddle-cloth of the elephant (No. 12), with inscription in Greek and Arabic, meaning-
Labour and Industry.
12. —A colossal elephant of black stone, with gold and silver dots. Upon the back of this
prodigious animal is placed an obelisk of verde-antique.
13 and 14.—Two sarcophagi, the covers decorated with scales, surmounted by the nude figures
of a King and Queen.
15. —A cut representing so-called hieroglyphics ; among these devices is a decorated casket of
great elegance.
16. —An ancient gate of wonderful construction, which is minutely described in the text. In the
right and left corners of this woodcut are the medallion busts of a man and woman in antique drapery.
17. —The terrified Poliphilus flying before the dragon.
18. —Emblematic devices.
19. —Architectural frame, part of a marble fountain, with two Corinthian pilasters ; in the tym-
panum, a laurel-crown encircling a vase out of which two birds are drinking. (In the original
this frame encloses a relief representing a sleeping nymph and satyrs.)
20. —Poliphilus meeting five nymphs.
21. —A weather-cock, with a genius blowing a trumpet.
22. —Part of the second fountain.
23. —The third fountain, with groups of harpies and griffins. The figures of the three Graces
IN THE
DREAM OF POLIPHILUS
(“ Poliphili Hypnerotomachia,’’ Venice, 1499.)
The following pages contain brief descriptions of 168 woodcuts in the “ Dream of Poliphilus,”
reproduced by the photo-lithographic process from the first Aldine edition. They have been
prepared in order that the fac-similes may not to many appear as a collection of unintelligible
and extravagant, though beautiful, designs ; and those readers who may wish to know something
more about Colonna’s singular romance, are referred to the annotated literal French translation
by Claudius Popelin. We have found this translation helpful. We must, however, also acknowledge
that we are much indebted to Albert Ilg for the valuable hints he gives in his ingenious
treatise on the Hypnerotomachia, although some of our explanations differ from his.
1. —Poliphilus entering, “with great feare, into a darke obscure and unfrequented wood” (as
the old English version of 1592 hath it.) He wears a round skull-cap upon his richly curled head,
and has the lower part of his long gown tucked under his right arm.
2. —-Poliphilus, who has emerged from the dark wood, is kneeling by the side of a rivulet, and
upon the point of refreshing himself from its waters, when his attention is suddenly arrested by a
wondrously sweet song.
3. —Poliphilus sleeping under a tree ; in the background wooded hills. This woodcut is
marked .b. in the right hand corner at the bottom.
4. —Poliphilus surrounded by remains of classical antiquity—a richly ornamented fragment of
an architrave, a corslet, a Corinthian capital, and the base of a column. Behind Poliphilus, near
a group of palm-trees, we see a ferocious wolf which, however, is flying before him. In the
foreground, a lizard and some plants.
5. —A huge pyramidic temple, of white Parian marble, with 1410 steps, dedicated to the
Sun ; it is surmounted by a marvellous obelisk of Syenite marble, with a winged female figure at
the top, holding a cornucopia in her right hand, and with her robes floating in the air. This figure
is made so as to turn with the slightest breeze.
6. —A colossal and large-winged bronze horse, upon a pedestal, with charming little genii
climbing upon its back or tumbling down from it.
7 and 8.—The two ends of the pedestal of the bronze horse ; one decorated with a garland of
marjoram and ferns, the other with a garland of orpine. The inscriptions are—Deis Ambiguis
dedicatus, and Equus infoelicitatis.
9. —One of thesides ofthe pedestal ofthe bronzehorse, with a reliefof two-faced youthsandnymphs
dancing. The front-faces of these dancers are supposed to be laughing, the back ones weeping.
10. —The other side of the pedestal. A similar representation. A young man, in the costume
of a Roman warrior, crowned with a wreath, distributes flowers among the young couples, which
another youth is plucking for him.
11. —Saddle-cloth of the elephant (No. 12), with inscription in Greek and Arabic, meaning-
Labour and Industry.
12. —A colossal elephant of black stone, with gold and silver dots. Upon the back of this
prodigious animal is placed an obelisk of verde-antique.
13 and 14.—Two sarcophagi, the covers decorated with scales, surmounted by the nude figures
of a King and Queen.
15. —A cut representing so-called hieroglyphics ; among these devices is a decorated casket of
great elegance.
16. —An ancient gate of wonderful construction, which is minutely described in the text. In the
right and left corners of this woodcut are the medallion busts of a man and woman in antique drapery.
17. —The terrified Poliphilus flying before the dragon.
18. —Emblematic devices.
19. —Architectural frame, part of a marble fountain, with two Corinthian pilasters ; in the tym-
panum, a laurel-crown encircling a vase out of which two birds are drinking. (In the original
this frame encloses a relief representing a sleeping nymph and satyrs.)
20. —Poliphilus meeting five nymphs.
21. —A weather-cock, with a genius blowing a trumpet.
22. —Part of the second fountain.
23. —The third fountain, with groups of harpies and griffins. The figures of the three Graces