Adriani, De militiae laudibus oratio, Basel, 1518, later boards

ADRIANI, MARCELLO VERGILIO

De militiae laudibus oratio, Florentiae dicta. (Basel: Johann Froben, December 1518)

4to (205 x 140mm.), 12 ff., title within architectural woodcut border, woodcut printer's device on final verso, modern marbled boards, a few small wormholes

Adriani (1464-1521) succeeded Poliziano at the Studio Fiorentino and was also chancellor of the Republic of Florence (working with his former pupil Machiavelli who was appointed second chancellor; they did not have an easy working relationship). After the return of the Medici, when Machiavelli was exiled from Florence, Adriani remained in favour; this speech was given to mark the appointment of Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, as captain-general of Florence.

LITERATURE:

VD16 V 778

PROVENANCE:

purchased for £3-10s