CAROSO, Fabritio (ca.1526-ca.1605) - Il Ballarino. Venice: Francesco Ziletti, 1581.   A fine copy in red morocco by Zaehnsdorf of the first edition of the most important Italian treatise on dance of the sixteenth century and one of the most beautiful books on the subject ever produced.   The author was active as a dancer, "inventore di scene", dance teacher, musician and composer and is remembered among the last supporters of the Italian Renaissance dance style as opposed to the French danse noble which had begun to spread in Europe in the final decades of the fifteenth century. As well as a practicing dancer, Caroso was also a fine theorist, and this work provides a wealth of detailed information on the dances of the time. The first part illustrates 55 rules for steps, while the longer second part describes 76 separate dances, including high, low, ballet, pavan, cascarda, saltarello, and espagnolette. Each dance is accompanied by a poem in praise of a different woman, mostly members of noble Roman families, and includes musical notation for the lute. Each of the dances under discussion is designed for one or more pairs of dancers. Throughout the work, Caroso celebrates the concept of 'noble living', and the figure of the cultured dancer-courtesan.   The 22 full-page engravings are by the well-known artist Giacomo Franco and depict the positions of the dancers at the beginning of each of the various dances; the work is a precious iconographic source not only for the history of dance, but also for that of the fashion and culture of the period in general. This is the issue with Ziletti's arms on title.   4to (236 x 170mm). Printer's device on title repeated at the beginning of the second part, elegant woodcut head-and-tail pieces, engraved portrait of the author by Giacomo Franco within a border with the coat of arms, 22 engraved full-page illustrations within elegant borders, partially repeated, printed music and notations for the lute (some soiling on title and final leaf, a few small skillful restorations, slight staining throughout to the lower margin, occasional light browning, few sporadic small restored wormtracks to the lower margin of a few pages including between 2Q3-2S1, perhaps a little washed). Zaehnsdorf red morocco, covers within triple gilt fillet, elaborately gilt spine with five raised bands, gilt title, edges and dentelles (lightly rubbed, corners lightly bumped).

Estimate € 5,000 - 8,000

Sold € 5,000