Beschreibung:

ANDREINI, Giovanni Battista (1578-1650). L'adamo sacra rapresentatione . Milan: Geronimo Bordoni, 1613.
ANDREINI, Giovanni Battista (1578-1650). L'adamo sacra rapresentatione . Milan: Geronimo Bordoni, 1613. 4° (231 x 165 mm). Engraved title, portrait, one full-page and 38 half-page engravings after Carlo Procaccini by Cesare Bessano, one engraved head-piece above the ‘Prologo’, woodcut head- and tailpieces, ornamental initials. (Occasional very light marginal finger-soiling or light browning.) Brown morocco by Duru, 1861, gilt central arabesque on sides with floral cornerpieces, gilt edges extremities lightly rubbed, light sunfading at top of rear cover). FIRST EDITION ONE OF THE 'MOST SIGNIFICANT WORKS OF 17TH CENTURY THEATRE' (Vinciana). Bassano's illustrations show the imaginative set designs created for the performance, including scenes from Genesis and several fantastic flights of devils and monsters. The author was the son of Francesco and Isabella Andreini, the most famous actors of their age. He had a great success as a comedian in Paris under the name of Leylio and was a favourite of Louis XIII. According to popular belief Milton saw the play during his travels in Italy, which influenced the writing of Paradise Lost . 'The action is grandiose. With the Biblical story which forms the groundwork of the picture are interwoven many extravagances and that spectacular display which so pleased the public' (Joseph Spencer Kennard, The Italian Theatre ). Sander notes that only some copies contain the portrait of the author (as here). The book was reissued in 1617 with a new title-page. BL 17th-Century Italian I, p. 32; Brunet I, 269; Cicognara 1423; Sander 6381; Vinciana 4125.