Back to the search result

Columella - De Re Rustica

Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)

Florence (Italy) — First half of the 15th century

Ancient teachings for running an agricultural business: Columella's 12-volume, rediscovered treatise on Roman agriculture in a magnificently illuminated Renaissance manuscript from Florence

  1. The twelve-book work by Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (4 – ca. 70) was discovered by Poggio Bracciolini (1380–1459)

  2. Pope Sixtus IV (1414–84), a great bibliophile, owned this splendid Florentine manuscript of the work

  3. It is adorned by large, historiated initials, refined miniatures, and finely woven frames reminiscent of Insular Illumination

Columella - De Re Rustica

Ms. E 39 Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
Wish List
Stock List
Share
  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Columella - De Re Rustica

The Roman Empire may have been carved out by its legions, but it was Rome’s farmers, engineers, and bureaucrats that made it run. Rome itself and other cities were connected to the diligent farmers who grew their food by a massive infrastructure network of paved roads and trade fleets travelling through waters freed from pirates by Roman triremes. The techniques utilized by Roman farmers to feed the Empire are detailed in this precious manuscript. It was rediscovered by Poggio Bracciolini and his assistant Bartolomeo di Montepulciano during the Council of Constance and was soon copied numerous times.

Columella - De Re Rustica

The Council of Constance (1414–18) was a famous ecumenical council resolving the Western Schism that left European allegiances divided between pope and anti-pope since 1378. Aside from resolving the great religious-political crisis, an important discovery was made in the course of those four years: the complete text of the twelve-book De Re Rustica by Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (4 – ca. 70), the most important source on Roman agriculture.

A Roman Farming Manual

On Rural Affairs was found by Poggio Bracciolini (1380–1459) and his assistant Bartolomeo di Montepulciano as they explored the libraries of Switzerland and France. The books are divided among the following themes: soils, viticulture, fruits, olive trees, big animals, small animals, fish and fowl, wild animals and bee-keeping, gardens, personnel management, calendars, and household management. The work was reproduced in numerous manuscripts, including the sublime specimen at hand, which originated in the first half of the 15th century, probably in Florence judging by the frontispiece. A coat of arms indicates that this codex was once owned by Pope Sixtus IV (1414–84), a great bibliophile. The beautiful white parchment pages were adorned with large, historiated initials, refined miniatures, and finely woven frames reminiscent of Insular Illumination. The illustrations directly and artfully reflect the content of the text, indicating that the illuminator worked closely with the scribe. A truly magnificent union of Ancient Roman agriculture and Renaissance Florentine illumination!

Codicology

Alternative Titles
De Re Rustica
De re rustica di Lucio Giunio Moderato Columella
Origin
Italy
Date
First half of the 15th century
Language
Latin
Script
Humanistic
Content
"De Re Rustica" and "De Arboribus"
Patron
Pope Sixtus IV
Available facsimile editions:
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
#1 Columella - De Re Rustica
Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Rome, 2005
Limited Edition: 530 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Columella - De Re Rustica

Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Rome, 2005
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy)
Columella - De Re Rustica – Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Ms. E 39 – Biblioteca Vallicelliana (Rome, Italy) Photos with courtesy of the publisher

Publisher: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato – Rome, 2005
Limited Edition: 530 copies
Commentary: 1 volume by Patrizia Formica
Language: Italian
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding. The 14 illuminations were printed on a special unalterable paper.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
You might also be interested in:
Codice Stivini - Inventory of the possessions of Isabella d'Este Gonzaga – Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte – Inv. b. 400 – Archivio di Stato di Mantova (Mantua, Italy)
Codice Stivini - Inventory of the possessions of Isabella d'Este Gonzaga
Mantua (Italy) – 1542

From Michelangelo and Mantegna to Correggio and Perugino: The detailed inventory of one of Europe's richest collections, assembled by one of the Renaissance's greatest patrons of the arts

Experience More
Historia Naturalis: De Piscibus et Cetis – Siloé, arte y bibliofilia – Private Collection
Historia Naturalis: De Piscibus et Cetis
Frankfurt (Germany) or Amsterdam (Netherlands) – 1649

The major work of early modern zoology with fascinating copperplate engravings by the gifted Matthäus Merian: John Johnston's influential encyclopedia on fish and other sea creatures

Experience More
Blog articles worth reading
16th Century
16th Century

When did the Middle Ages end and the Early Modern Period begin? Most agree it was sometime in the course of the 16th century, a...

Read more

Filter selection
Style
Genre
Origin
Language
Publisher
Show all available expressions

Visit us!

WHERE? In our store in Regensburg's Old Town.

We have been running a specialist store for facsimiles for over 10 years in Regensburg's Old Town, just opposite the "Schottenportal" of the Romanesque Scots Monastery of St. Jacob at Jakobstraße 6.