The
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili(“Poliphilo’s Struggle for Love in a Dream”) was first published in Venice in 1499.
Poliphilo’s Dream, also referred to as
Il Polifilo, is widely considered one of the most beautiful books ever printed, but also one of the most enigmatic, in part because of the debate surrounding the identity of its author. The
editio princepsof
Poliphilo’s Dreamwas produced at the Venetian press of Aldus Manutius, the celebrated scholar-printer who famously produced the first edition of Aristotle using Greek type (1495-1498), as well as the first italic typeface (
Works of Virgil, 1501), among other luxurious volumes. Aldus’s most extensively illustrated book,
Poliphilo’s Dreamis visually engaging for its 172 woodcut images of different shapes and sizes and…
2767 words
Citation: Oettinger, April. "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 April 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35887, accessed 25 November 2024.]