Add MS 8377

GIOVANNI ANTONIO THOMASI: Discorso sopra la vita del Cardinale Di Luca; circa 1683-1689. Italian and Latin. Copy. Life of Cardinal Giovanni Battista De Luca (1614-1683). Title (f. 1) 'Discorso sopra la vita Dell' Eminentissimo Signore Cardinal De Luca con alcune riflessioni non inutili al Curiale.' Inc. (f. 3) 'È comune parere de Naturali, che la qualità dell'Aria, la temperie del clima, e la nobilità del sito dove nasce', expl. (f. 89v) 'Alle cui glorie per tanto siricercavano più torto i penelli dell' eternità, che i deformi inchiostri delle mie imperfettioni'. The main text is preceeded by a letter of presentation written to Pope Innocent XI, patron of Cardinal De Luca, by Giovanni Antonio Thomasi, after the death of the Cardinal, circa 1683-1689. Inc. (f. 2) 'Alla Santità di Nostro Signore Papa Innocenzo XI come Herede istituito si dourebbe l'humilissimo tributo di quest' imperfetto abbozzo della vita dell' eminentissimo Signore Cardinale Giovanni Battista de Luca di gloriosa memoria'. The main text (ff. 3-89v) begins with the birth of Giovanni Battista De Luca and provides details of his studies at Naples and Rome, where he gained a high reputation for his ability in the subject of law, and of his subsequent writings on the jurisprudence of the Roman Court and the Sacra Rota. The text continues with an account of his entry to the priesthood at an advanced age and patronage by Pope Innocent XI, who made him successively referendary Utriusque Signaturae, auditor of the Sacred Palace and finally in 1681 raised him to the cardinalship. Stamp of the Colonna library 'Libraria Colonna' in red on f. 1 and i. Owned by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, but lacking his armorial bookplate. '60' in pencil in upper left corner of f. 1. Purchased together with Add. 8357, 8593, 8596, 8671, 8787 from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 60 (part).

Paper; ff. 88 + i. Old foliation in ink 1-88 (beg. f. 3). 278 x 209mm. Horizontal catchwords on every page. One late 17th-cent. hand. Guilford binding of quarter vellum with decorated paper covers over pasteboards.