While the important exhibition on Ugo Da Carpi at Palazzo Pio is still underway (it will close its doors only at the end of June) which highlights the futuristic work of the artist from Carpi with the no longer replicated experiment of “printing” color paintings on table, there is the possibility of rediscovering another side of the artistic work of this illustrious fellow citizen. In fact, if the work of Ugo Da Carpi is mainly known for his large-sized, multi-wood chiaroscuro prints printed on paper in collaboration with his contemporaries of excellent fame, from Parmigianino to Raphael, one cannot forget the work editorial conducted by Ugo “matrices intaiatore”. The prestigious Spanish auction house Soler Y Lllach in fact, in its next round of auctions of manuscripts, valuable books and maps, scheduled for Barcelona at the end of May, among the almost thousand lots put up for sale (lot 18 Calligraphy and Typography) a copy of the volume “Thesaurus of Writers” printed in Rome in 1535.
It is, to put it in the words of Ugo himself, an: “artificial (artistic) work which, with great art, both through practice and through geometry, teaches how to write different types of literature, that is, chancellery, mercantile , formed, cursive, ancient and modern…”, in short, a manual of beautiful writing for use by notaries, public and private scribes, writers and cultured people who love beautiful and elegant writing, not only in content but also in form. Offered at a starting bid of several thousand euros, the volume is made up of one hundred pages printed in woodcut with characters, examples of calligraphy and ornaments of all types and sizes. An example of the practical skill of this artist who, with the panel of the Holy Face of Saint Peter in the Vatican exhibited in Palazzo Pio, demonstrated an uncommon vis inventiveness which today can hardly be disputed despite the not exactly flattering (but certainly hasty) judgment that Michelangelo passed on him. The volume on auction in Barcelona is certainly not for all budgets but for those who wish to own it in any case, a facsimile of it was reproduced in 1968 by the London publisher Mattali & Maurice and can be found on the book market for a few dozen euros .
(In the photo the title page of the volume)
