Varchi, Orazione funerale di Michelagnolo Buonarroti, Florence, 1564, later vellum

Varchi, Benedetto. Orazione funerale di M. Benedetto Varchi fatta, e recitata da lui pubblicamente nell'essequie di Michelagnolo Buonarroti in Firenze, nella chiesa di San Lorenzo. Florence: heirs of Bernardo Giunta, 1564

For an account of Michelangelo's lavish funeral in Florence, see lot 464. Varchi was entrusted with the funeral oration, which served to promote the new Florentine Accademia del Disegno as much as Michelangelo himself. The dedicatee of this work, Vincenzo Borghini, was one of the organisers of the obsequies, along with Vasari. The funeral took place in the Medici church, San Lorenzo, indicating Michelangelo's significance to the Medici regime, though his tomb is in the family church of Santa Croce.

4to (205 x 145 mm). Italic type, 33 lines plus headline. collation: [A]-H⁴: 32 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-page and final verso, woodcut initials. (Occasional light foxing.)

binding: Later vellum (213 x 154 mm), red morocco lettering-piece. (Small section of front flyleaf excised.)

acquisition: Purchased in 1999 from Robin Halwas, London. references: Edit16 28283; Pettas, Giunti 399