Allegory of Pistoia

Allegorical frontispiece with mythological deities in foreground, one supporting city coat of arms. Three putti support a coat of arms of Cardinal Forteguerri, view of Pistoia in background.

Etching, 1656, signed in plate at lower right with production details: “Lazarus Baldus delin.” and “Joan Batta Bonacina Mediol. Scul. Romae.”.

Engraved by Giovan Battista Bonacina from a subject by painter Lazzaro Baldi.

This is a rare allegorical print that served as the title page for Michelangelo Salvi's famous work, Delle Historie di Pistoia, printed in Rome by Ignazio de' Lazari in 1656. Michelangelo Salvi (was a 17th-century Italian historian. Michelangelo Salvi worked on the “Historie di Pistoia” the first volume of which came out in 1655. In this first volume the learned clergyman (he was a Servite friar) argued that the origin of Pistoia was to be charged to a great-grandson of Noah, known by the name of Pistio. In 1657 the second volume of the Historie appeared, which the Servite monk wanted to consecrate to Cardinal Forteguerri. The third and final volume of the Historie was published in 1662 in Venice.

Good impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed to copperplate, in good condition.

Bibliografia

Giuseppe Boffito, Frontespizi Incisi nel libro italiano del Seicento, p. 70.