Discours De La Religion Des Anciens Romains, De la castrametation & discipline militaire d'iceux. Des Bains & Antiques exercitations Grecques & Romaines, Escript par Noble S. Guillaume du Choul, Conseiller du Roy, & Bailly des montaignes du Dauphiné. Illustré de Medailles & figures retirées des marbres Antiques, qui se treuvent à Rome, & par nostre Gaule.
[T.p., dedic.] - Discours De La Religion Des Anciens Romains - Indice Des matieres Principales, Dieux Et Deesses ... - Table Des Choses Memorables ... - Indice Des Medailles Et Revers ... - [T.p. of 'Discours Sur La Castrametation Et Discipline Militaire Des Anciens Romains, Des Bains & Antiques exercitations ...', dedic.] - [Text of 'De La Castrametation ...'] - [Divisional t.p. of 'Des Bains Et Antiques Exercitations ...', dedic.] - [Text of 'Discours Des Bains Et Exercitations ...'] - Table Des Choses Principales Contenues Aux Deux Traictés de ce volume.
Responsibility Note
The woodcuts are unsigned; Baudrier attributes them to Pierre Eskrich.
The Discours De La Religion is dedicated (1556) by Du Choul to Monsieur D'Urfé; the Discours Sur La castrametation is dedicated (unsigned and undated) to King Henry II of France; the Des Bains Et Antiques Exercitations is dedicated (unsigned and undated) to the King.
References
University of Cambridge, Catalogue Of Books Printed On The Continent Of Europe, 1501-1600, ed. H.M. Adams (1967), v. I. D1026; Harvard University, Harvard College Library Department of Printing and Graphic Arts Catalogue of Books and Manuscripts Part I: French 16th century books, comp. R. Mortimer (1964), vol. I, nos. 180 (1556 edn.), 181 (1557 edn.), p.222-3; H.L. Baudrier, Bibliographie lyonnaise (Lyons, 1895-1921).
Overviews include K. Pomian, Collectionneurs, amateurs et curieux (1987; English tr. 1991); R. Weiss, The Renaissance discovery of classical antiquity (2nd. ed., 1988).
Summary Note
The Discours Sur La Castrametation has its own title page, also dated 1581.
Du Choul's Discours De La Religion Des Anciens Romains was first published in 1556 in folio (or 1547 in quarto - but the latter is not recorded in Baudrier); his Discours sur la castrametation was first published in 1555. In later editions the two are usually found bound together.
Both works are copiously illustrated with woodcuts, showing images drawn from ancient coins and sculpture.
Provenance
The title page is inscribed in ink in an unknown hand, 'Given by R. Yeo RA'. Presented to the Academy by Foundation Member R. Yeo, by 2 September 1769 (RAA CM I, 40).
Binding Note
Contemporary white vellum, with gilt-stamped borders on upper and lower covers and gilt decoration on spine.
Subject
Romans - Religion, Roman - Mythology, Roman - Fortification - Armed forces - Military life - Baths - Exercises - Coins - Sculpture, Roman - Rome - History
Pictorial works - France - 16th century