Lipsius justus five humanist studies (1 Ergebnisse)

Soft cover. Zustand: Very Good. No Jacket. Illustrated Edition. 4to. 5 works in one vol. [94]f. Roman & Greek letter. Variant versions of printer's engraved device on title and (otherwise blank) last leaf. (Bound with:) LIPSIUS, Justus. Saturnalium sermonum. Libri duo, qui de gladiatoribus. Editio ultima & castigatissima. Antwerp, Plantin-Moretus, 1617. 136p + [2]f. Roman & Greek letter. With 4 folding- and 4 full-page plates and 4 fine large textual engravings by Otto Vaenius, all showing gladiatorial scenes. printer's device on title. (And:) LIPSIUS, Justus. De amphitheatro liber. Antwerp, Plantin-Moretus, 1604. 2 parts in 1 work. 77p + [3]f. Roman, italic & Greek letter. With 8 engraved plates (4 folding), and 4 half-page engravings. Variant versions of printer's device on title and (otherwise blank) last leaf. (And:) LIPSIUS, Justus. De vesta et vestalibus syntagma. Editio altera atque ab ultimâ auctoris manu, notis auctior & figuris illustrior. Antwerp, Plantin-Moretus, 1609. [4]f + 59p + (2)f. Roman, italic & Greek letter. With 25 engraved illustrations of Roman coins and cameos, an engraving of a solar mirror in action, and one full-page plate. Printer's device on title and last (otherwise blank) leaf. (And:) LIPSIUS, Justus. De Bibliothecis Syntagma. Editio secunda & ab ultima auctoris manu. Antwerp, Plantin-Moretus, 1607. 35 + [5]p. Roman, italic & Greek letter. Different versions of printer's device on title and on last (otherwise blank) leaf. 5 works in 1 volume. 4to. Contemporary limp vellum. Five neo-classical studies reflecting the wide range of interests of the celebrated Flemish humanist Joest Lips (1547-1606), who initiated the renewed study of Roman military methods in the Netherlands. The essay on the Greatness of Rome in dialogue form contains several chapters of military interest: book 2, ch.10 on the public expenses of maintaining an army, book 4, ch. 3 on justice and clemency in war, and book 4, ch. 4 on the strength of the Roman army. The treatise on public spectacles or gladiatorial games remains a valuable source for our knowledge of ancient combat. The evocative engraved illustrations by Otto Vaenius (1556-1629), a teacher of Rubens, include: folding plates showing 'meridiani' armed with swords only fighting at a banquet for the entertainment of guests, gladiators performing at a funeral, sham-fighting with wooden staves and fighting to the death with swords in an amphitheatre; half-page engravings depicting a variety of combats: women and dwarfs (favoured by the emperor Domitian), a 'retirarius' or net fighter armed with a trident against a 'secutor' or heavily armed swordsman, a 'mirmillon' with helmet, shield and sword against a Thracian with buckler and curved dagger, a Samnite with body amour, oblong shield and short sword, essedarians throwing javelins from chariots, 'andabatae' or horsemen with closed helmets and spears, 'dimachaeri' with swords in both hands, 'lacearii' with lasso and sword, 'postulaticii' or heavily armed prize fighters who made only special appearances, and 'catervarii' who fought in bands. The famous study of Roman amphitheatres, here in the last edition corrected by the author, is dedicated to the great geographer Abraham Ortelius (Funck, p354 & Fowler 183 (note). The plates show the Colosseum with gladiatorial games in progress, and the theatres of Verona, Pola, Nîmes, and Doué. The study of the Vestal Virgins, illustrated with delicate engravings of coins and cameos, is followed by a description of great libraries of the ancient world in Egypt, Greece and Rome. Lipsius, a professor at Louvain, was a close friend of Plantin and his successor Moretus, who between them, published nearly all of his works. A freshly preserved volume from the Nordkirchen Library with bookplate.…