Nuove Inventioni Di Balli, Opera Vaghissima Di Cesare Negri Milanese Detto Il Trombone, Famoso, & eccellente Professore di Ballare. Nella quale si danno i giusti modi del ben portar la vita, & di accommodarsi con ogni leggiadria di movimento Alle Creanze, Et Gratie D'Amore. Convenevoli a tutti i Cavalieri, & Dame, Per ogni sorte di Ballo, Balletto, & Brando d'Italia, di Spagna, & di Francia. Con figure bellissimi in Rame, & Regole della Musica, & Intavolatura, quali si richieggono al Suono, & al Canto. Divisa In Tre Trattati. Al Potentissimo, & Catholico Filippo Terzo Rè Di Spagna. Con Privilegio.

Cesare Negri

RA Collection: Book

Record number

07/2895

Author

Cesare Negri

Imprint

In Milano,: Appresso Girolamo Bordone., M. DCIIII. Con Licenza De' Superiori.

Physical Description

[6], 1-214, 211-296, [4] p.: illus.; 324 mm. (In sixes.)

General Note

The irregular pagination is a printer's error, as is stated on the last page of text: 'Dopò il foglio 214. s'è fatto errore nella Stampa, nel numero de fogli, & segue fino al fine dell'opera.' There are two further errors: pp. 275-6 are misplaced between pp. 272 and 273; pp. 283-4 are misplaced between pp. 280 and 281.

[T.p., dedic.] - [Verses] - [Text with illus.] - Tavola Delli Capitoli che si contengono in questo Libro ...; [erratum].

Responsibility Note

Many illustrations are signed as designed by (I.) M(auro) R(overe), and all are signed as engraved by L(eon) P(alavicino), apart from that on p.149, which is unsigned.

The work is dedicated by Cesare Negri to Philip III, King of Spain.

Summary Note

This publication is largely a reprint of the work first published in Milan in 1602 under the title Le Gratie d'Amore - but with a new title-page and a number of small emendations to the text.

The text owes much to F. Caroso's Il Ballarino (1581); but Negri is thought to be the first to expound the theory of the 'five basic positions' of ballet.

The first illustration shows a portrait of Cesare Di Negri. The rest show men and women in dance positions.

From p. 117 onwards the text contains many passages of music for the lute.

The title-page vignette shows the printer's device (with the motto 'Velascus Crescit Occulto'). The work is further embellished with woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces.

Reproductions

A microfilm version was made by the British Library. See also Nuove inventioni di balli Gesamtausgabe der 43 Balli in einer Übetrragung aus einer italienischen Tabulatur für Gitarre etc., ed. Mönkemeyer [1967].

Provenance

The front pastedown carries a 19th-century armorial bookplate with the motto 'Constantia Et Labore'; and is inscribed in pencil 'S.A.H.', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81.

Copy Note

The front loose endpaper is inscribed in pencil, 'This book wants the proper title-page. The one inserted belongs to his later work. H.I.F.' (This note is incorrect. The text has the 1604 emendations.)

Binding Note

19th-century inlaid binding in 17th-century style, upper cover lettered 'Negri Nuove Invenzioni Di Balli Milano Bordone MDCIIII', lower cover stamped 'R. Morotti Legatore Bologna'; gilt-decorated spine, red morocco spine-label lettered 'Negri Nuove Invenzioni Di Balli', spine lettered 'R.A.' and 'Milano MDCIIII'.

Subject

Dance - Ballet - Music - Italy - History - 17th century
Treatises - Manuals - Instructional materials - Italy - 17th century
Pictorial works - Scores - Tablatures - Italy - 17th century

Contributors

Girolamo Bordone, publisher, bookseller
Philip III King of Spain, dedicatee
Giovanni Mauro della Rovere, draughtsman
Leone Pallavicini, engraver
R. Morotti, binder