Corpus Librorum Emblematum: The Jesuit Series. Part Three (F-L) (review)

Abstract

This is the third part of an important project, undertaken by two authors who have made their mark in the world of emblem studies. In the introduction they present their work as follows: "This bibliography attempts to encompass all extant books of emblems, emblematically illustrated works, and books dealing with the theory and practice of emblematics that were written by members of the Society of Jesus." There was a good reason to choose the Jesuits, for they "produced more books in this genre than did any other identifiable group of writers, and second, they published in all major European vernacular languages as well as in Latin." The authors estimate that the complete series will comprise [End Page 742] about 1700 entries, of which 500 are first editions. They excluded books with fewer than three plates or woodcuts, and books which have only an emblematic title-page or an emblematic frontispiece, a rather contestable decision. (Why not fewer than two or four plates?)