A Copy of Orosius, Historiae adversus paganos, Printed by Hermann Lichtenstein in Vicenza ca. 1475 with Illumination Attributable to Giovanni Vendramin

The Orosius, Historiae adversus Paganos, published here belongs to Trinity College, Cambridge. It was printed on paper by Herman Lichtenstein of Vicenza ca. 1475. Its architectural frontispiece is a significant addition to the known incunables illuminated in the Veneto, and can be attributed to an important artist, Giovanni Vendramin. He was active in Padua, where his father was bidello (stationer) of the University, and Ferrara, where he signed an initial in one of the manuscript choir books for the Cathedral. A list on the last leaf detailing different types of decoration is an important discovery. So far no other example in a printed book of a practice familiar from manuscripts appears to be known. Its purpose was to calculate payment to the artist, though pro rata rates are not given. The inserted arms, yet to be identified, indicate that as with other similar luxury copies the original owner was noble.