![DE' MEDICI, Lorenzo, 'Il Magnifico' (1449-1492). Sixteenth-century manuscript copy of the 'Canzone a ballo composte del magnifico Lorenzo de' Medici e da M.Agnolo Poliziano ed altri autori, insieme con la Nencia di Barberino e la Beca di Dicomano composte dal medesimo Lorenzo. Nuovamente ricorrette', transcribed from the second edition of the 'Canzone' (Florence, 1568), written in brown ink in an attractive late 16th-century cursive hand, frontispiece in pen and ink with grey wash border, 101½ pages written on leaves numbered 1-51, index of titles, altogether 108 pages, 220 x 160 mm, a few blanks, press mark on front free endpaper. Contemporary vellum, spine gilt in compartments, gilt-morocco lettering piece in one ('De Mede[...] Canz. MS 78), (vellum slightly bowed and marked, a few worm holes on spine and lower board).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2005/CKS/2005_CKS_07046_0034_000(101556).jpg?w=1)
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DE' MEDICI, Lorenzo, 'Il Magnifico' (1449-1492). Sixteenth-century manuscript copy of the 'Canzone a ballo composte del magnifico Lorenzo de' Medici e da M.Agnolo Poliziano ed altri autori, insieme con la Nencia di Barberino e la Beca di Dicomano composte dal medesimo Lorenzo. Nuovamente ricorrette', transcribed from the second edition of the 'Canzone' (Florence, 1568), written in brown ink in an attractive late 16th-century cursive hand, frontispiece in pen and ink with grey wash border, 101½ pages written on leaves numbered 1-51, index of titles, altogether 108 pages, 220 x 160 mm, a few blanks, press mark on front free endpaper. Contemporary vellum, spine gilt in compartments, gilt-morocco lettering piece in one ('De Mede[...] Canz. MS 78), (vellum slightly bowed and marked, a few worm holes on spine and lower board).
Provenance. Ownership stamp of Pietro Odescalchi (1789-1858)
The 'Canti a Ballo' revive the traditions of the old, popular Florentine songs, taking their familiar themes of love, betrayal and pastoral life, and expressing them in a more refined style, although often sensuous, teasing and lascivious. None of them is individually attributed and it is impossible to determine how many are the work of Lorenzo and how many are by Poliziano.The Canti were first published in Florence in 1562; the second edition followed six years later. The manuscript includes all 148 lyric pieces, and the two works which were added for the second edition. 'Beca de Dicomano' however is by Luciano Pulci and not by Lorenzo.
The subjects include such rustic charmers as the girl to whom the blackbird sings all night, the shepherdesses of the hills and their simple life ('Richezza non cerciamo ne piu ventura Se non be' fiori, e facciam grillandelle'); and a particularly enjoyable juxtaposition of an invitation by a vendor of cosmetics to visit his establishment, followed by verses of advice to abstain from artificial aids to beauty.
'Fanciulette siate invitate
quando vengono questo feste,
se volere essere honeste
non andate si lisciate'
'Voi dovete considerare
Che glie peccato mortale
A volervi contrafare
Vostra faccia naturale'
Provenance. Ownership stamp of Pietro Odescalchi (1789-1858)
The 'Canti a Ballo' revive the traditions of the old, popular Florentine songs, taking their familiar themes of love, betrayal and pastoral life, and expressing them in a more refined style, although often sensuous, teasing and lascivious. None of them is individually attributed and it is impossible to determine how many are the work of Lorenzo and how many are by Poliziano.The Canti were first published in Florence in 1562; the second edition followed six years later. The manuscript includes all 148 lyric pieces, and the two works which were added for the second edition. 'Beca de Dicomano' however is by Luciano Pulci and not by Lorenzo.
The subjects include such rustic charmers as the girl to whom the blackbird sings all night, the shepherdesses of the hills and their simple life ('Richezza non cerciamo ne piu ventura Se non be' fiori, e facciam grillandelle'); and a particularly enjoyable juxtaposition of an invitation by a vendor of cosmetics to visit his establishment, followed by verses of advice to abstain from artificial aids to beauty.
'Fanciulette siate invitate
quando vengono questo feste,
se volere essere honeste
non andate si lisciate'
'Voi dovete considerare
Che glie peccato mortale
A volervi contrafare
Vostra faccia naturale'
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