Famous Women
Boccaccio's De Claris Mulieribus in eleven editions across four centuries.
Illustrations
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This hand-colored woodcut illustrates a scene from the life of Semiramis, the legendary Queen of Assyria, shown here with her son Ninias. The composition reflects the narrative style of 15th-century German book illustration, combining classical subject matter with contemporary medieval dress and settings.
This hand-colored woodcut illustrates a scene from classical mythology, likely from a version of Boccaccio's 'De mulieribus claris' or a similar compendium. It depicts Saturn, Ops, and the infant Jupiter, representing the complex family dynamics and power struggles of the ancient gods as interpreted in the late 15th century. The labels 'Saturnus', 'Ops', 'Jupiter', and 'Titanus' help identify the figures for the reader.
In 1362, Boccaccio wrote the first collection of biographies of famous women in Western literature. This collection gathers 11 editions — from the 1473 Ulm incunable to the 1493 illuminated French manuscript, German translations, and Foresti's 1497 expansion. How the Renaissance thought about female achievement, in the physical editions that shaped that thought.
Essential Reading
The foundational texts of this tradition
On Famous Women
Giovanni Boccaccio, 1473
As the 1473 Ulm incunable, this is a foundational edition explicitly mentioned in the collection's description.
Of Famous Women
Giovanni Boccaccio (German trans.), 1479First from German
This early German translation further demonstrates the work's significant spread and impact during the Renaissance.
On Famous Women
Giovanni Boccaccio, 1493First from French
This 1493 French edition, likely an illuminated manuscript, is a key example explicitly cited in the collection's description.
On Famous Women
Giovanni Boccaccio, 1485
This 1485 Latin edition is a crucial early print of Boccaccio's seminal work, contributing to its Renaissance reception.
On Famous Women
Giovanni Boccaccio, 1474
This 1474 Latin edition is an essential early print, demonstrating the immediate impact and circulation of Boccaccio's text.
Important Works
Significant texts that deepen understanding
All Books
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