Livy (Titus Livius Patavinus)

Livy (Titus Livius Patavinus)

Historiae romanae decades (Roman History)

Opening: Illuminated Page with the Coat of Arms of the Venetian Donà Family

1470
Printed on vellum by Vindelinus de Spira in Venice

Purchased by Pierpont Morgan with the library of Theodore Irwin, 1900

PML 266
Item description: 

Livy's Historiae romanae decades was one of the first classical Latin texts to be printed in Venice. The book and chapter headings, at the top in gold, were added by a trained scribe. Woodcut patterns that served to guide the miniaturist were stamped into the margins after printing and appear underneath the intense green vine motifs contrasting with gold ground of the painted borders. The blue soldier in Roman armor with an outstretched arm represents the letter F, thus providing the initial for the first word on the page, Facturus.