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Andrea Alciati was an Italian jurist and writer who is renowned for being the progenitor of the emblem book genre with his seminal work, “Emblematum Liber” (Book of Emblems). Born in Alzate Brianza, near Milan, Alciati was a prominent figure in the development of humanist jurisprudence. He studied in Milan and Pavia, and later taught law in several Italian cities, including Bologna and Milan, becoming known for his efforts to interpret Roman law according to the principles of humanism.
[an edition dated 1550 and printed in Lyon. These are woodcuts. The borders were separate from the actual image and were re-used on other pages]
Alciati’s “Emblematum Liber,” first published in 1531, is a collection of short Latin verse texts and accompanying woodcut illustrations. Although not initially conceived with pictures, the addition of images in the 1534 edition published in Augsburg marked a pivotal moment for the emblem tradition. His emblems draw from classical, legal, and moral sources, often incorporating aphorisms, and were aimed at cultivating wit and moral reflection. The work’s broad appeal and numerous editions reflect its significant influence on literature, art, and education in Renaissance Europe. Alciati’s integration of erudition with visual artistry forged a path for a genre that would flourish across Europe for over two centuries, embodying the Renaissance’s emblematic interplay of word and image.
[Michael Maier created Atalanta Fugiens, probably the most famous Emblembook ever see ➤]
Emblem books, a genre of illustrated book that gained immense popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries, present a unique interplay of text and image that conveys moral lessons, political messages, or religious teachings. These books are composed of emblems, individual units that consist of a motto (inscriptio), a picture (pictura), and an explanatory verse or prose (subscriptio). Emblem books can be seen as an early form of multimedia, combining visual and literary arts to engage the reader in contemplation.
An emblem from Alciati’s book might depict a seemingly simple illustration, such as a heart encircled by a crown of thorns with the motto “Patience is a virtue.” The accompanying verse would expound on the virtue of patience in adversity, drawing on classical or biblical allusions.
Online resources, such as the Warburg Institute’s “Electronic Emblematica” and the “Emblem Project Utrecht,” offer digital copies of emblem books, where readers can view the intricate designs and read the accompanying texts of historical emblem books, including those by Alciati. Here are a few links where emblem images from Alciati’s work and others can be viewed:
• Warburg Institute’s Iconographic Database ➤
• Emblem Project Utrecht ➤
• The English Emblem Book Project ➤
Alciati online (a chronological list, including his other works):
In tres posteriores codicis Justiniani annotationes. In quibus obiter qua plurima aliorum authorum loca explanantur. Eiusdem opusculum, quo Graece dictiones fere ubique in digestis restituuntur. Strasbourg, Johann Schott, 1515 ➤
Paradoxorum. [Basel, apud Andreas Cratander, 1523] ➤
Libellus, de ponderibus et mensuris. Hagenau, apud Johann Setzer, 1530 ➤
Viri clarissimi D. Andree alciati jurisconsultiss. Mediol. Ad D. Chonradum peutingeru Augustanum, juriaconsultum emblematum liber. [Augsburg, per Heinrich von Augsburg Steiner], 1531 ➤
Paradoxorum. [Basel, in officina Andreas Cratander, 1531] ➤
Libellus, de ponderibus et mensuris. Item Budaei quaedam de eadem re, adhuc non uisa. Item Philippi Melanchthonis, de iisdem ad Germanorum usum, sententia. Alciati quoque, et Philippi Melanchthonis in laudem iuris civilis, orationes duae elegantissimae. Venezia, per Melchiorre I Sessa, 1532 ➤
Viri clarissimi D. Andreae alciati jurisconsultiss. Mediol. Ad D. Chonradu peutingerum Augustanum jurisconsultum, emblematum liber, iam denuo emendatus et recognitus. [Augsburg, per Heinrich von Augsburg Steiner], 1534 ➤
Judiciarii processus compendium, atque adeo juris utriusque praxis, in gratiam studiosorum nunc primum typis excusa. Köln, excudebat Melchior von Neuß, 1536 ➤
Judiciarii processus compendium, atque adeo juris utriusque praxis aurea. Eiusdem quoque, et Philippi Melanch. Necnon sebaldi Munsteri in laudem juris civilis orationes tres elegantiss. Köln, apud Melchior von Neuß, 1537 ➤
Clarissimi jureconsulti D. Andreae alciati in digestorum sive pandectarum librum XII, qui de rebus creditis primus est: rubric. Si certum petatur, commentarius longe doctissimus atque utilissimus, nunc primum in lucem editus. Unà cum indice diligentissimo. [Basel, Robert Winter], 1537 ➤
Parerton juris libri III, cum argumentis capitum in eosdem & indice vocum, rerum, auctoritatum, & locorum notatu dignorum. Basel, ex officina Johannes Herwagen (I) [et Johann Erasmius Froben], 1538 ➤
Judiciarii processus compendium, atque adeo juris utriusque praxis aurea. Nunc demum recognita et emendata. Köln, apud Melchior von Neuß, 1538 ➤
Emblemata. Lyon, 1544 ➤
Omnia quae in hunc usque diem sparsim prodierunt usquam, opera, ab ipso quidem autore tomis digesta quatuor, & ea qua ad posteros transmitti censuit perfectione recognita, auctioráque reddita: non tam juris, quàm aliarum etiam disciplinarum candidatis, ob variam ac multiplicem eruditionem, permagno usui futura. [Basel, per Michael Isengrin], 1546-1547 ➤
Emblemata. Lyon 1548 ➤
Emblemata. Lyon 1550 ➤
Responsum juris. In causa mechtildis. I de executione sententiae definitiuae in causa Elisabethae: non porrigenda ad negocium mechtildis nondum judicialiter cognitum. Ii de praescriptione pro Landtgravio, et obiter de bona fide. Per clarissimum D. Andream alciatum. [Marburg, Andreas Kolbe, 1551] ➤
De formula Romani imperii libellus. Accesserunt non dissimilis argumenti, dantis Florentini de monarchia libri tres. Radulphi carnotensis de translatione imperii libellus. Chronica M.iordanis, qualiter Romanum imperium translatum sit ad Germanos. Omnia nunc primum in lucem edita. Basel, per Johann Oporinus, [1559] ➤
Judiciarii processus compendium, atque adeò juris utriusque praxis, in gratiam studiosorum multò diligentius quàm hactenus excusa. Cum indice novo. Köln, apud Arnold Birckmann (I) (heirs of), 1565 [1566] ➤
Liber emblematum. Kunstruch Andree Alciati von Meyland jetzund verteutscht und an Tag Geben. Frankfurt am Main, 1566. (Colophon: bey Georg Raben, in werlegung Sigmund Feyrabends und Simon Hüters, 1567) ➤
Emblemata Andreae alciati, I.v. Doctoris clarissimi, postremo ac ultimo ab ipso authore recognita, imaginibusque vivis ac lepidis denuò artificiosissimè illustrata. Adiecta sunt insuper perelegantia ac docta epimythia seu affabulationes, Frankfurt am Main, [apud Georg Rab (I) sumptibus Sigmund Feyerabend et Simon Hüter], 1567 ➤
Emblemata. Antwerpen 1577 ➤
Tractatus de praesumptionibus, D. Andreae alciati jureconsulti, cum annotationibus, et argumentis io.nicolai arelatani I.v. D. Cum summariis et indice locupletißimo. Köln, apud Johann Gymnich (III), 1580 ➤
Liber emblematum. Kunstruch, mit schönen Figuren Geziert und Gebessert. Frankfurt am Main, 1580. (Colophon: durch Nicolaum Bassee) ➤
Emblemata. Antwerpen 1581 ➤
De verborum significatione, libri IIII. Eiusdem in titulum XVI. Lib. L. Digestorum commentarii, in titulum XVI. Lib. L. Digestorum commentarii. Frankfurt am Main, apud Christoph Rab, 1582 ➤
Responsa, libris novem digesta, antea ter incuriose excussa, nunc quarta vice diligentissimè emendata, ac aliis responsis nuper inter manuscripta, inventis aucta, locupletißimoque rerum, et verborum indice ordinatim contexto. Basel, apud Thomas Guarin, 1582 ➤
Opera omnia in quatuor tomos legitimè digesta. Basel, apud Thomas Guarin, 1582 ➤
Emblemata Andreae alciati I.c.clariss. Postremo ab autore recognita, vivisque imaginibus artificiosissimè illustrata. Adiuncta sunt epimythia, quibus, quae obscuriora videbantur, sunt declarata. Frankfurt am Main, [apud Nikolaus Basse], 1583 ➤
Omnia … emblemata. Paris, 1583 ➤
Commentarius ad titulum de praescriptionibus. Speyer, apud Bernardum Albinum, 1598 ➤
Emblemata. Lyon, 1600 ➤
Emblemata. Antwerpen 1608 ➤
Emblemata. Lyon 1614 ➤
Les Emblemes. Köln 1615 ➤
Omnia … emblemata. Paris 1618 ➤
Emblemata. Padua 1621 ➤
