[Rarebooks] FS: The Queen of Poland's visit to Italy & Pope Innocent XII. Rome: 1700

[karmbooks at aol.com]

Bassani, Antonio. VIAGGIO A ROMA DELLA S. R. M. DI MARIA CASIMIRA REINA
DI POLONIA. (Rome: Barberini. 1700). First edition. 4to. (8),226,(2)pp.
Finely engraved title and an inserted portrait. A fine cont. binding of
mottled calf,
gilt paneled, with a large gilt ornament on both covers. Front cover
with a
scratch. Contemporary bookplate, "Tolomei," and engraved vignette
pasted onto front free endpaper.	$2,000.00 (trade discount allowed)
This book was produced to celebrate the Queen of Poland, Maria
Kazimiera's visit to Italy and Innocent XII after the death of her
husband. She
was patroness of the composer Domenico Scarlatti. Commonly known as
Marysienka (1641-1716), she had more or less been exiled by the new
King of Poland and arrived in Italy in 1699, setting up court in
imitation of another Northern Queen in Rome, Kristina of Sweden. This
volume is a detailed account of her voyage from Poland to Rome, and her
introduction into the higher circles of Italy, including a description
of her lodgings at the palace of the Duke of Bracciano. The artistic
decoration, including antique sculptures restored by Bernini are
described meticulously. OCLC locates copies in Munich, Jena, Cambridge,
the French National Library, and at the University of Toronto; no copy
is found in the U.S.

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