Aristotle's Opera

Aristotle's Opera
Gregorius de Gregoriis de Forlivio for Benedictus Fontana, 1496
ARISTOTELES (384-322 BCE). Opera nonnulla. Translated by John Argyropoulos, Bruno Aretinus, and others. Venice: Johannes and Gregorius de Gregoriis de Forlivio for Benedictus Fontana, 13 July 1496.

Humanist translations of the works of Aristotle, illustrated. The rediscovery and translation of Aristotle’s works in the Middle Ages transformed European intellectual life; by the time of the Renaissance, however, a new Aristotle was needed to meet the needs of the Humanists. This edition collects the Aristotelian translations of John Argyropoulos, an émigré Greek scholar (and teacher of Lascaris), who is praised in the preface for having restored Aristotle to his original Greek eloquence—that is to say: presented him in a new, Humanist, Latin idiom. The selection of his translations, alongside those of Bruno Aretinus and Ermolao Barbaro, “confirms the high level of commitment to humanist values and methods that characterizes the 1496 volume as a whole” (Kraye). HC 1659*; BMC V 349; BSB-Ink A-705; GW 2341; IGI 797; Klebs 82.7; Goff A-966; ISTC ia00966000. See also Jill Kraye, “The printing history of Aristotle in the fifteenth century: a bibliographical approach to Renaissance philosophy,” in Renaissance Studies 9.2 (June 1995), pp. 189-211.

Super-chancery folio (317 x 205mm). 507 leaves (of 508, blank h6 replaced with later paper). Large and small woodcut initials, two historiated blocks depicting Jacobus de Voragine and Nicolò Malermi, a few with red or yellow coloring, numerous woodcut diagrams, woodcut printer’s device (first leaf a little soiled, some leaves toned, narrow dampstaining at paper edges; a few iron burn holes). Modern brown morocco. Provenance: occasional underlining and marginal comments – Salzburg, Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter (stamp on first leaf) – acquired from Lathrop Harper, Inc, New York, 5 December 1955.