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From a European private collection
BRUNO, Giordano (1548-1600)
De umbris idearum. – Ars memoriae. Paris: Gilles Gorbin, 1582.
細節
BRUNO, Giordano (1548-1600)
De umbris idearum. – Ars memoriae. Paris: Gilles Gorbin, 1582.
First edition of Bruno’s pioneering work on memory, which exemplifies his ‘transformation of the art of memory into a deeply magical art’ (DSB).
Trained as a Dominican, Bruno fled Italy in 1576 to avoid prosecution for heresy, beginning a life of wanderings through France, England and Germany. De umbris idearum is dedicated to Henri III, whose curiosity had been piqued by the rumours of Bruno's feats of memory. It describes a method for constructing mental ‘memory palaces’ by populating imaginary spaces (loci) with vivid images to aid in memorization. Its exploration of mnemonic techniques and cognition, alongside cosmology and magic, would later influence thinkers including Spinoza and Leibniz.
In England, Bruno wrote a second, much longer memory treatise, the Triginti sigilli, and gave a series of lectures at Oxford advocating the Copernican theory. Hostile reception to these lectures caused Bruno to return to London, where he frequented the court of Elizabeth I and developed relationships with Sir Phillip Sydney and Robert Dudley. Later in Italy, after a trial of some eight years for holding opinions contrary to the Catholic faith, he was burned at the stake in February 1600 on the Campo de’ Fiori in Rome. Adams B-2952; Brunet I:1299.
2 parts in one, octavo (169 x 100mm). Woodcut and type ornament headpieces, woodcut initial letters, 12 astrological diagrams and 19 animal and human figures in text. Full red morocco gilt by Anker Kyster (Denmark, 1864-1939), red speckled edges (minor stains to rear endpaper). Provenance: ‘EC’ (unidentified monogrammed bookplate on front pastedown).
De umbris idearum. – Ars memoriae. Paris: Gilles Gorbin, 1582.
First edition of Bruno’s pioneering work on memory, which exemplifies his ‘transformation of the art of memory into a deeply magical art’ (DSB).
Trained as a Dominican, Bruno fled Italy in 1576 to avoid prosecution for heresy, beginning a life of wanderings through France, England and Germany. De umbris idearum is dedicated to Henri III, whose curiosity had been piqued by the rumours of Bruno's feats of memory. It describes a method for constructing mental ‘memory palaces’ by populating imaginary spaces (loci) with vivid images to aid in memorization. Its exploration of mnemonic techniques and cognition, alongside cosmology and magic, would later influence thinkers including Spinoza and Leibniz.
In England, Bruno wrote a second, much longer memory treatise, the Triginti sigilli, and gave a series of lectures at Oxford advocating the Copernican theory. Hostile reception to these lectures caused Bruno to return to London, where he frequented the court of Elizabeth I and developed relationships with Sir Phillip Sydney and Robert Dudley. Later in Italy, after a trial of some eight years for holding opinions contrary to the Catholic faith, he was burned at the stake in February 1600 on the Campo de’ Fiori in Rome. Adams B-2952; Brunet I:1299.
2 parts in one, octavo (169 x 100mm). Woodcut and type ornament headpieces, woodcut initial letters, 12 astrological diagrams and 19 animal and human figures in text. Full red morocco gilt by Anker Kyster (Denmark, 1864-1939), red speckled edges (minor stains to rear endpaper). Provenance: ‘EC’ (unidentified monogrammed bookplate on front pastedown).
榮譽呈獻
Sophie Meadows
Senior Specialist