MINIATURIST, Italian
(active 1460s in Rome)

Aulus Gellius: Noctes Atticae

1469
Incunable (Auct. L.2.2)
Bodleian Library, Oxford

Aulus Gellius (c. AD 130–180), the (Latin) author of Noctes Atticae ('Attic nights'), in twenty books, of which all survive except the beginning of the preface and book 8 (for which we have chapter headings). His birthplace is unknown, but he studied literature at Rome before proceeding to Athens where he visited Herodes Atticus. His book is a random collection of short essays, based on the Greek and Latin books he had read and the conversations and lectures he had heard, and deals with a great variety of topics: philosophy, history, law, grammar, literary and textual criticism, antiquarian knowledge, and many other subjects.

This book was printed in Rome in 1469 by Conrad Sweynheym and Arnold Pannartz. The illumination was added by hand and is by an artist employed regularly by the printers. The blank space within the wreath at the foot is so that a customer could have his own arms inserted.




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