Commentary by Jacopo della Lana and Andrea della Lancia and magnificently illuminated with 100 miniatures by Michelino da Besozzo: Dante's magnum opus for the Obizzi family
Divina Commedia degli Obizzi
Italy — Second half of the 14th century

Divina Commedia degli Obizzi
Italy — Second half of the 14th century
The magnum opus by Dante Alighieri (ca. 1265–1321) is a cornerstone of Italian illumination
It is combined here with commentaries by Jacopo della Lana (1290–1365) and Andrea della Lancia (1296–1357)
100 splendidly-colored miniatures, tasteful bordures, and lavish initials encapsulate the events of the entire text
Divina Commedia degli Obizzi
- Divine Comedy Cod. 67 in the Seminario of Padua
- Göttliche Komödie degli Obizzi
Short Description
With his Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) not only created his magnum opus ca. 1307, but also founded Italian literature. Today, countless editions of this masterpiece are in existence. One of them originates from the second half of the 14th century and aside from the important poem, contains the commentaries by Jacopo della Lana (1290–1365) and Andrea della Lancia (pre-1296 – post-1357). First, the 100 luminous miniatures, tasteful bordures, and lavish initials by Michelino da Besozza (ca. 1370 – ca. 1455) make the manuscript a magical experience. In it, the illuminator encapsulates the events of this entire text and glamorously presents them before the eyes of the beholder.
Divina Commedia degli Obizzi
Appearing at the end of the 14th century in Italy, this 301-page edition of Dante Alighieri’s (1265–1321) Divine Comedy also contains additional commentaries by Jacopo della Lana (1290–1365) and Andrea della Lancia (pre–1296 – post–1357). This Italian vernacular work also comprises a bedrock for Italian literature and is adorned with 100 glimmering miniatures, splendid initials, and rich decorative elements by Michelino da Besozzo (ca. 1370 – ca. 1455). Since the escutcheon of the Obizzi family is to be found on the first page of the Inferno, it can be surmised that it was commissioned by or was in the possession of the family for a time.
Miniatures from the Best
The Italian Michelino da Besozzo (ca. 1370 – ca. 1455), one of the most gifted late-Gothic artists from Lombardy, was commissioned to illuminate the manuscript. He already worked for Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1351–1402) and also demonstrates all of his ability with the depictions of Dante’s work. Contrary to the many other illuminations, he did not make these in collaboration with other artists but rather alone.
Great Art in Small Format
The illuminator encapsulates the events of the entire text in 100 splendidly-colored miniatures. In order to achieve this, he decided against isolated full-page miniatures and instead chose smaller depictions, which could take up the width of a column. These smaller-format pictures are captivating with their luminosity and the frugal application of gold leaf, wherewith Besozzo skillfully emphasized its features. Corresponding to the scene were artful flowering tendrils, able to enchant with their detailed portrayal of nature.
The Book’s Unknown History
There are only two clues concerning the origin and history of the comprehensive codex. One is that it appears to havecome to the Biblioteca del Seminario in 1720 when Alfonso Alvarotti died and the library of his entire collection was bequeathed. The second reference is a coat of arms on the first page of the Inferno. In spite of heavy damage, it can be identified as that of the Obizzi family, who had connections in the area of Ferrara and Padua.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Divine Comedy Cod. 67 in the Seminario of Padua
Göttliche Komödie degli Obizzi - Size / Format
- 301 pages / 34.0 × 23.9 cm
- Origin
- Italy
- Date
- Second half of the 14th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Script
- Gothic Textualis Rotunda
- Content
- Dante's Divine Comedy with commentaries by Jacopo della Lana and Andrea della Lancia
- Artist / School
- Michelino da Besozzo
- Previous Owners
- Alfonso Alvarotti
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Divina Commedia degli Obizzi“
Divina Commedia degli Obizzi
- Publisher
- Imago – Castel Guelfo, 2018
- Limited Edition
- 300 copies
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Chiara Ponchia
Language: Italian - More Information
- 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.
Matching Works
The Crusades: Les Passages d'Oultremer
Commissioned by Louis de Laval, illuminated by Jean Colombe: the greatest medieval source concerning the history of the Crusades
Experience MoreKing René's Book of Love
Inspired by a tragic loss, illuminated with the most beautiful twilight scenes of illumination: an allegorical chivalric romance written by Duke René d´Anjou and illustrated by Barthélemy d'Eyck
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Literature
Much like today, medieval readers were looking for stories full of excitement and adventure that would take them out of...Experience moreGothic
Gothic illumination is some of the most spectacular and iconic imagery of medieval art and first emerged in Northern...Experience more14th Century
How could a century of endemic warfare, famine, and the Black Death produce great minds like Petrarch, Boccaccio, and...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo