The Life of Lorenzo de Medici, Called the Magnificent by Roscoe, William, Revised by his son, Thomas roscoe - 1851

Henry G. Bohn, London, 1846. 8th edition. Original boards. V.g./No Jacket. Publisher's green embossed cloth covers, bumped at corners, vol. 1 starting to split along edge of spine. Engraved frontispiece by Hinchliff after Vasari; no guard. Bookplate "ex libris Edwardus Evans". Roscoe, a Unitarian by faith, was not the obvious choice to write these biographies, yet the books were well received when first published and deservedly ran to many popular editions, of which this is an interesting example. Hard work in places (the author is not averse to reproducing lengthy quotations in the original Latin or Italian), but Roscoe's admiration for Lorenzo de' Medici shines through. Pages' top edges largely uncut.

London: Henry G. Bohn, 1865. Fine Binding. Near Fine. 9" by 5.5". Not stated. A super copy of William Roscoe's account of fifteenth century statesman and arts patron Lorenzo de' Medici A biography of fifteenth century Italian statesman and de factor ruler of the Florentine Republic, Lorenzo de' Medici, illustrated with numerous in-text engravings, three plates, and one folding plate depicting a sketch of the Catafalque at the burial of Michelangelo. Alongside a discussion of the political life of Lorenzo the Magnificent, William Roscoe recounts how the magnate was one of the most powerful and enthusiastic patrons of Renaissance culture in Italy known for his sponsorship of artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo. The new edition of this work revised by the author's son, Thomas Roscoe. In full calf binding with decorative spine. Externally, very smart with just some minor shelf wear. There is a tiny scuff in the leather to the tail of the spine and some marginal wear to the extremities.… Read More