L'Hercolano
This first edition influenced and inspired Montaigne in the writing of his first work.
The copy belonging to the poet Philippe Desportes (1546-1606) with his double autograph signature, and to the Baron de Longepierre with his emblem on the spine.
Tawny calf, triple fillet around the covers, spine with raised bands decorated with armorial pieces, double gilt fillet on edges, gilt edges, usual restoration to corners and joints.Armorial binding from the 17th century.
210 x 134 mm.
Varchi, Benedetto. L’Hercolano. Dialogue by Messer Benedetto Varchi, in which languages are discussed in general, and in particular the Tuscan and Florentine dialects.
Florence, Filippo Giunti and brothers, 1570.
Rare first edition (Brunet) of this “very rare and highly esteemed” treatise (M.J.F. Willems), highlighting the Tuscan regional sources of the Italian language.
Famous work which would inspire Montaigne in the writing of his Apology for R. Sebond.
Brunet, V, 1086; Graesse, Trésor de livres rares et précieux, VI, 260; Catalogue A.A. Renouard, II, p.44; Catalogue du duc de La Vallière, III, 7538; M.J.F. Willems, I, 2690; Catalogue M. Libri, II, 2032.
Precious copy that belonged to Philippe Desportes, a follower of these theories in France; it is adorned with his autograph signature on the title page.
In this work, Varchi attempts to synthesize all the questions and concerns of 16th-century Italian linguists. He argues for the use and thus the preservation of the vernacular language and its Tuscan roots, as opposed to the official language, a pure development of classical Latin.
Benedetto Varchi (1502-1565), born in Florence, attached to the Strozzi family, took part in the expulsion of the Medici in 1527.
When his works had earned him the reputation of a pure and elegant writer, Cosimo I, who wanted to encourage literary studies, recalled him from exile, granted him a pension and facilitated the establishment of the Florentine Academy; then he commissioned him to write the history of the last days of the republic and the origins of Medici power.
Along with the History of Florence, the Ercolano is the most esteemed of Varchi’s works, which he gave this title in honor of Count Cesare Ercolani of Bologna, one of the dialogue’s interlocutors.
Precious copy that belonged to Philippe Desportes, a follower of these theories in France.
His autograph signature appears at the top and bottom of the title page.
The libraries of Montaigne and Desportes contained a large number of Italian books. Italian influence was strong at the court of Henry III and among French poets who rediscovered and illustrated neo-Petrarchism.
Under the reign of Henry III, Desportes was considered the equal of Ronsard, and often preferred to him.
Forty years Varchi’s junior, Desportes was 24 when the Ercolano appeared. In 1570, he had just returned from a stay in Italy where he was influenced by Petrarch. Desportes led, with Ronsard and Du Bellay, the Italianizing movement as well as the defense of the free development of language and dialects; he was drastically opposed to Malherbe who, at court, advocated a classical and refined language. Literary France would later side with Malherbe. Only a few—Régnier, Théophile de Viau and La Fontaine, lovers of “old words”—would resist into the seventeenth century.
Montaigne owned a copy of the 1570 Ercolano which would influence the writing of his Apology for R. Sebond as well as his Essays.
“It was probably during his travels that Montaigne acquired this work; in any case, he read it between 1580 and 1582. Varchi wrote this book about a dispute between two scholars of the time, Annibal Caro and Castel Vetro. He discusses at length issues of language and grammar which were very popular in the 16th century. Montaigne made 4 borrowings from it, all inserted into the Apology for R. Sebond. Three of them concern the question of speech among animals. Montaigne defended the hypothesis, Varchi opposed it.” (Les sources et l’évolution des Essais de Montaigne, P. Villey, I, p.234)
Montaigne would also insert into his Essays quotations taken directly from the Ercolano.
Pleasing copy having belonged to Philippe Desportes and bearing his autograph signature on the title page, bound in the 17th century for Baron de Longepierre, with his arms repeated on the spine of the volume.
Hilaire Bernard de Requeleyne, Baron de Longepierre (1659-1721), remains famous for his love of books. As a child, he so outshone his classmates in his classical studies that Baillet placed him among the Celebrated Children. He composed several tragedies.
This bibliophile has remained renowned among collectors. His volumes, tastefully bound often in fawn calf, are all adorned with the Golden Fleece.
