Resta Codex

Padre Sebastiano Resta assembled 284 drawings by great Italian masters in this 17th century album
The artists range from the 14th to the 18th century, from Giotto to Raphael and Leonardo to Botticelli
Preserved in Milan’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana since 1709, this manuscript is considered to be a treasure chest of graphic art

Resta Codex

Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana (Milan, Italy)

Description

Resta Codex

The famous Resta Codex is surely one of the most important art historical treasures of the Italian Renaissance! Padre Sebastiano Resta, a gifted graphic collector of the 17th century, assembled 281 drawings by great Italian masters in this album. The line-up of artists represented here stretches from Trecento to Seicento, from Giotto to Raphael and Leonardo to Masaccio and Botticelli. Exciting notes and anecdotes from the hand of the collector supplement the precious drawings. Rediscovered in the Library of Palermo after being lost for a long time, the Resta Codex is considered to be a true treasure chest of graphic art during this time!

Resta Codex

The famous Resta Codex is surely one of the most important art historical treasures of the Italian Renaissance! Padre Sebastiano Resta, a gifted graphic collector of the 17th century, assembled 284 drawings by great Italian masters in this album. The line-up of artists represented here stretches from the 14th to the 18th century, from Giotto to Raphael and Leonardo to Masaccio and Botticelli. Exciting notes and anecdotes from the hand of the collector supplement the precious drawings. Preserved in Milan’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana since 1709, the Resta Codex is considered to be a true treasure chest of graphic art during this time!

A Collected Album with Exciting History

The famous Resta Codex is stored today in the Biblioteca Ambrosia in Milan. This valuable album with drawings by Italian masters is named after its author: Padre Sebastian Resta (1635–1714). Resta was a gifted collector and great connoisseur of graphic art. He pasted anlarge number of drawings into notebooks in the course of his life. They comprise 3,500 drawings in 30 volumes altogether, the so-called Resta Codex is surely the most famous. Unlike most of the 30 albums, this one was never plundered and its contents divided among collections across the world. Since 1709, the Resta Codex has enriched Milan’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana, inviting viewers on a captivating journey through Italian drawing.

The Drawing as an Unmitigated Access to the Artist

A selection of the 100 most beautiful sheets from the total of 289 in the Resta Codex assembles works presenting a wonderful overview of the treasure that unfolds here: drawings by the greatest masters of Italian art from the 14th to the 18th century. Among the artists represented here are such great names as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Massacio and many more. The drawings offer an unhindered inside view into the genesis of great works of art and into the idea world of these great masters. Resta furnished the pasted pages with notes, information, speculations, anecdotes, and other comments from his hand. The 234 pages of this codex, measuring 52 x 37.2 cm, enchant nearly every lover of Italian Renaissance art!

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Resta-Codex
Codice Resta
Type: Manuscript on paper; Drawings/Paintings on paper
Size / Format: 234 pages / 52.0 × 37.2 cm
Origin: Italy
Date: 14th–18th century
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Renaissance
Genre: Leonardo da Vinci
Paintings / Graphics
Language: Italian
Illustrations: 284 drawings by the greatest Italian artists from the 14th to the 18th century
Previous Owners: Sebastiano Resta (1635–1714)

Available facsimile editions:

Vallecchi – Florence, 2003

Limited Edition: 1000 copies

Amilcare Pizzi – Milan, 1955

Limited Edition: 2030 copies

Detail Picture

Resta Codex

Architectural Study

This sketch of a port city by Titian incorporates numerous classically styled architectures. In the lower left corner, a statue of a woman with a basket on her head stands with its back to the beholder and looks out to the gate, which is flanked by mismatching towers. A man walks up the steps to the right and into an arcade where more figures watch the ships that sail through the harbor. The Z-shaped railing helps to create perspective and a sense of depth.

Single Page

Resta Codex

Study of the Annunciation

This study of the Virgin Mary from a fresco of the Annunciation painted by Correggio ca. 1524-25 is missing the Archangel Gabriel on the left, who appears with two cherubs on a cloud. Although the holy burst of light behind Mary’s head has not yet been incorporated, her body posturing with her right hand over her heart reflects the image’s final version.

The fresco originally adorned the church of San Francesco in Parma. Vasari informs us that when its original home was demolished in 1546, the monks reinforced the section of wall behind it with iron bars, carefully cut it free, and moved it to another part of the monastery. It was later moved to the Annunziata church in Capo di Ponto and is now in the Galleria nazionale di Parma.

Facsimile Editions

#1 Codice Resta

Vallecchi – Florence, 2003

Publisher: Vallecchi – Florence, 2003

Limited Edition: 1000 copies

Binding: The binding is based on that of the original manuscript: handcrafted dark brown leather binding with gold tooling. The facsimile comes in a dark brown solander box with gold tooling.

Commentary: 1 volume by Gianfranco Ravasi
Languages: English, Italian

Partial facsimile of the original “Resta Codex”. The reproduction may cover only part of the original or differ from it in format, appearance or feel. One hundred plates from the original document, printed on special paper made exclusively for this volume by Cartiere Miliani di Fabriano.

Facsimile Copy Available!

Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)

Inquire current price here or ask a different question

#2 Cento Tavole del Codice Resta

Amilcare Pizzi – Milan, 1955

Publisher: Amilcare Pizzi – Milan, 1955

Limited Edition: 2030 copies

Binding: The binding is based on that of the original manuscript: brown hardcover with genuine leather spine and gold tooling. The facsimile comes in a protective slipcase. The facsimile and a brief introduction in Italian, French, English and German are combined. The commentary is included in the same volume as the facsimile.

Commentary: 1 volume
Languages: English, Italian, French, German

The commentary includes a brief introduction to the manuscript in four languages.

Partial facsimile of the original “Resta Codex”. The reproduction may cover only part of the original or differ from it in format, appearance or feel. The facsimile edition comprises a selection of 100 pages or plates from the original document.

Facsimile Copy Available!

Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)

Inquire current price here or ask a different question

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Resta Codex

Resta Codex

Resta Codex

A Collected Album with Exciting History

The Drawing as an Unmitigated Access to the Artist

Codicology

Resta Codex

Architectural Study

Resta Codex

Study of the Annunciation

#1 Codice Resta

#2 Cento Tavole del Codice Resta

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