A very finely preserved 1565 first edition of Angelico Buonriccio's quasi-reformation interpretive paraphrase of the Epistles of Saint Paul. Buonriccio's paraphrase first of Matthew, then of the Gospels in General, and then of Paul's Epistles followed in rapid succession immediately after the Council of Trent, in 1563.
The Catholic Church was on its heels a bit as a result of the absolute flood of Protestant translations and tractates being distributed throughout Papal lands. One result of the Council was a multi-faceted effort to counteract the Protestant "propaganda," by way of printing Rome-friendly translations and paraphrases of Scripture. And these were then to inform the publication and distribution of tractates and the visual arts as well. And they did. El Greco's famed 'Healing of the Blind Man' is noted as having been directly impacted by Buonriccio's spiritualized paraphrase of the account in Matthew.
Interestingly, Buonriccio didn't quite play ball though. He was a sort of mid-way man who articulated in his work the doctrine of Justification by grace and through faith alone, especially in his treatment of Romans. He thus reverses the usual Catholic order and at a critical time for Rome is aligned with the Reformation on this point. However, because of his favor on other issues and with the influential Venetian quarter of the church, his work was distributed, though is more in line with the Reformation. He appears, likely because of his safety in Venice, to have suffered no formal prosecution by Rome. Was Buonriccio using the flood of publication as cover? Was he in earnest to distribute the doctrine of Justification as a result of the counter-reformation efforts of the Council? It seems impossible to know, though it seems highly unlikely that his timing was accidental.
The present, of which no copy has appeared in the auction records, was beautifully produced by the Venetian printer, Andrea Arrivabene, where Buonriccio served as Priest. Several copies of his more common work on the Gospels have appeared at auction, the last of which was in 2022 where it fetched a good bit more than our asking price.
Arrivabene has produced a simply beautiful volume containing two fine title woodcuts of the woman at the well, the second appearing bright and crisp as the day it was printed; 32 woodcut headpieces, 7 large initial woodcuts, and over 120 small initial woodcuts. Perhaps a charming printer's error as well where several contiguous woodcut initials were apparently overlooked and what remains is a diminutive 'E' or 'P' floating in space, waiting for something more . . . but never receiving it.
Buonriccio, Reverendo don Angelico [Canonico Regolare della Congregatione del Salvatore, Venetiano]. Le Christiane et Divote Parafrasi Sopra Tvtte L'Epistole Dispaolo et le Canonice. In Venetia. Appresso Andrew Arrivabene. MDLXV [1565]. First and Only Edition.
Very good condition vintage parchment or vellum wraps, flyleaf laid to wrap so that the first leaf is the title; same at the rear. Textually complete and exceptionally crisp save the first title which is spotted, one leaf with a cross wise clean tear that is in no danger of impacting the integrity of the sheet, and two leaves that are toned, likely from something inserted at some point. Otherwise, a truly exceptional copy.