DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30698#0189
POLIPHILO.
163
Venice ; 1J 99.]
The reverse is blank. Thus have we travelled through a somewhat
intricate, yet not unpleasing road, in the present copious descrip-
tion of this extraordinary volume. Whatever be its defects, or the
characteristic obscurity of the text, it must be remembered that Mira-
beau thoughtit worth while to make an extract from it ;* and that the
credulous, and the lovers of mystery, have treasured it in their choicest
arcana, as containing most curious and recondite matter. The lan-
guage, however barbarous, is not undeserving of the attention of the
philological antiquary; as we find in it (so pointed out to me by an
ingenious friend), among other singular words, tlie earliest specimen
of that of Cameo. No bibliographer, or collector of books, has pro-
bably yet summoned sufficient courage to peruse the whole of the text;
but there are detached parts of equal beauty and interest—and de-
scriptions of scenery, and of the human passions, by no means unde-
serving of our applause.f What, however, may be denied to it on
the score of intrinsic worth, will be readily granted on that of intrinsic
beauty. Every thing in it conspires to charm the tasteful collector.
Blooming, or ornamental capital initials—borders—arabesque orna-
ments—classical compositions of figures, designed, and cut in wood,
with equal elegance and felicity — a fine round roman letter, worked
in the best manner of the Aldine press:—all these embellishments,
executed upon paper of a beautiful tint, and fine substance, delight
the eye and gratify the judgment of the Virtuoso.
A question, perhaps of some little interest, is involved in the con-
sideration of the ornaments. By whom were they designed and
engraved ? The usually received opinion, of their having been exe-
cutecT'after the designs of Andrea Mantegna, (an opinion in which
Messrs. Renouard and Legrand have also coincided) is perhaps not
very far from the truth: although my friend Mr. Ottley is inclined
to think that the designs partake rather of the character of those of
Benedetto Montagna. That Raphael was the author of them, is
* 1 Je ne dois cependant pas laisser ignorer que Mirabeau, excellent juge en litterature,
en a fait un tres court extrait dans ses Contes et Nouvelles, sous le merae titre de Songe
de Poliphile/ Legrand, vol. i. p. 7, 8-
t ‘ Au milieu de beaucoup d’iricoherences que le titre de Songe peut rendre excusables, et
d’un grand amas d’erudition, on ne peut nier qu’il n’y ait aussi beaucoup d’imagination. De
tres habiles artistes, des literateurs distingues, ne se sont fait aucune scrupule d’y puiser
comme dans une mine feconde: lorsque je nommerai Le Bernin, Perrmilt, Le Suenr, Le
Poussin, et La Fontaine enfin, le bon La Fontaine, amateur passionne de la litterature
italienne, on me dispensera sans doute de m’etendre sur un plus grand nombre de citations.’
Leguand, vol. i. p. 7.
163
Venice ; 1J 99.]
The reverse is blank. Thus have we travelled through a somewhat
intricate, yet not unpleasing road, in the present copious descrip-
tion of this extraordinary volume. Whatever be its defects, or the
characteristic obscurity of the text, it must be remembered that Mira-
beau thoughtit worth while to make an extract from it ;* and that the
credulous, and the lovers of mystery, have treasured it in their choicest
arcana, as containing most curious and recondite matter. The lan-
guage, however barbarous, is not undeserving of the attention of the
philological antiquary; as we find in it (so pointed out to me by an
ingenious friend), among other singular words, tlie earliest specimen
of that of Cameo. No bibliographer, or collector of books, has pro-
bably yet summoned sufficient courage to peruse the whole of the text;
but there are detached parts of equal beauty and interest—and de-
scriptions of scenery, and of the human passions, by no means unde-
serving of our applause.f What, however, may be denied to it on
the score of intrinsic worth, will be readily granted on that of intrinsic
beauty. Every thing in it conspires to charm the tasteful collector.
Blooming, or ornamental capital initials—borders—arabesque orna-
ments—classical compositions of figures, designed, and cut in wood,
with equal elegance and felicity — a fine round roman letter, worked
in the best manner of the Aldine press:—all these embellishments,
executed upon paper of a beautiful tint, and fine substance, delight
the eye and gratify the judgment of the Virtuoso.
A question, perhaps of some little interest, is involved in the con-
sideration of the ornaments. By whom were they designed and
engraved ? The usually received opinion, of their having been exe-
cutecT'after the designs of Andrea Mantegna, (an opinion in which
Messrs. Renouard and Legrand have also coincided) is perhaps not
very far from the truth: although my friend Mr. Ottley is inclined
to think that the designs partake rather of the character of those of
Benedetto Montagna. That Raphael was the author of them, is
* 1 Je ne dois cependant pas laisser ignorer que Mirabeau, excellent juge en litterature,
en a fait un tres court extrait dans ses Contes et Nouvelles, sous le merae titre de Songe
de Poliphile/ Legrand, vol. i. p. 7, 8-
t ‘ Au milieu de beaucoup d’iricoherences que le titre de Songe peut rendre excusables, et
d’un grand amas d’erudition, on ne peut nier qu’il n’y ait aussi beaucoup d’imagination. De
tres habiles artistes, des literateurs distingues, ne se sont fait aucune scrupule d’y puiser
comme dans une mine feconde: lorsque je nommerai Le Bernin, Perrmilt, Le Suenr, Le
Poussin, et La Fontaine enfin, le bon La Fontaine, amateur passionne de la litterature
italienne, on me dispensera sans doute de m’etendre sur un plus grand nombre de citations.’
Leguand, vol. i. p. 7.