Franciscus Gonzaga Mantuae Marchio

Ritratto di Francesco II Gonzaga, Marchese di Mantova. Bulino, 1601, da Giovan Battista Fontana. Ottima prova, impressa su carta vergata coeva, con margini, in buono stato di conservazione. Testo latino al verso, prima edizione. Tavola tratta da Augustissimorum Imperatorum . regum . verissimae immagina… (noto anche come Armamentarium Heroicum), il catalogo della collezione di armi dell'Arciduca Ferdinando II, conservato nel castello di Ambras; venne pubblicato per la prima volta a Innsbruck nel 1601. Fu illustrato con un frontespizio e 125 ritratti di principi europei in armatura completa, inseriti in una ricca cornice ornamentale. Le lastre furono incise da Domenico Custos su disegno di Giovanni Battista Fontana. Ogni tavola era accompagnata da un breve testo biografico scritto da Jacob Schrenk von Notzing. Una traduzione tedesca del libro (di J. E. Noyse von Campenhouten) è stata pubblicata nel 1603 con il titolo Der Aller Durchleuchtigisten und Grossmächtigen Kayser, Durchleuchtigisten unnd Großmächtigen Königen[.]. Una terza edizione, comprendente 123 tavole, fu stampata a Innsbruck nel 1605. Portrait of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marchese of Mantua, full length in armour, head turned to front, his left hand resting on the right of his sword, a baton in his right hand; a plumed helmet on the ground at his feet to the right; within a decorative surround comprising Corinthian columns decorated with putti, and garlands of fruit and flowers; a cartouche with handwritten inscription below. Engraving, circa 1601. A fine impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, with margins, good condition. Latin text on verso, first edition. Plate from Augustissimorum Imperatorum . regum. verissimae imagines… (also known as Armamentarium Heroicum), the catalogue of the arms collection Archduke Ferdinand II kept at Ambras castle; it was first published in Innsbruck in 1601. It was illustrated with a frontispiece and 125 portraits of European princes in full armour, with decorative surroundings. The plates were engraved by Dominicus Custos after designs by Giovanni Battista Fontana. Each plate was accompanied by a short biographical text on the former owner of the armour, written by Jacob Schrenk von Notzing. A German translation of the book (by J. E. Noyse von Campenhouten) was published in 1603 under the title Der aller Durchleuchtigisten und Grossmächtigen Kayser, Durchleuchtigisten unnd Großmächtigen Königen[.]. A third edition including 123 plates was issued in Innsbruck in 1605. Cfr. Hollstein 60.