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Quatriregio (Four Realms)

Author Written by Federico Frezzi Italian
Publisher Published for ("ad petitione di") Ser Piero Pacini da Pescia Italian
July 26, 1508
Not on view
Like the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, which this novel resembles in its length and the extent of its illustrations, the Quatriregio contains references to the world of pagan mythology. In the first of four realms traversed by the narrator, the realm of Cupid or love, we encounter Diana, Venus, Juno, Vulcan at his forge, and Neptune leading a marine procession.
In the pages seen here, the narrator observes as the sylvan deities—satyrs, centaurs, and dryads—join the nymphs of Diana to celebrate the festival of the goddess. The illustration on the right shows the nymphs paying homage to their queen, the goddess of the hunt. As is characteristic of Florentine art, the flowing hair and drapery of the nymphs recall depictions of bacchantes in ancient Greek and Roman relief sculpture. The satyr carrying another on his back also draws on an ancient model, a Roman sarcophagus that was well known to artists, inspiring, for example, the piggyback figures in Mantegna's Bacchanals (29.44.15; 1986.1159). In spite of these classical elements, this poem, composed around 1400 by a Dominican monk, has a clear didactic aim. As the pilgrim travels into other realms, he will enter an almost purely Christian universe.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Quatriregio (Four Realms)
  • Author: Written by Federico Frezzi (ca. 1346–1416)
  • Publisher: Published for ("ad petitione di") Ser Piero Pacini da Pescia (Italian, active Florence ca. 1495-1514)
  • Published in: Florence
  • Date: July 26, 1508
  • Medium: Printed book with woodcut illustrations
  • Dimensions: 11 1/8 x 8 3/8 x 1/2 in. (28.3 x 21.3 x 1.3 cm)
  • Classification: Books
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1920
  • Object Number: 21.4.1
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Francesco Colonna Italian, Printed book with woodcut illustrations
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
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December 1499
Hercules chasing Avarice from the Temple of the Muses, Ugo da Carpi Italian, Chiaroscuro woodcut from two blocks in green
Hercules chasing Avarice from the Temple of the Muses
Ugo da Carpi
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ca. 1520–27
Astronomicum Caesareum, Michael Ostendorfer German, Hand-colored woodcuts
Astronomicum Caesareum
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Embroidery Pattern with Seven Six-pointed Stars and Four Corner Pieces, Albrecht Dürer German, Woodcut
Embroidery Pattern with Seven Six-pointed Stars and Four Corner Pieces
Albrecht Dürer
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The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess, Marcantonio Raimondi Italian, Engraving
The Judgment of Paris: he is sitting at left with Venus, Juno and Pallas Athena, a winged victory above. In the upper section the Sun in his chariot preceeded by Castor and Pollux on horseback, at lower right two river gods and a naiad above whom Jupiter, an eagle, Ganymede, Diana and another goddess
Marcantonio Raimondi
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
ca. 1510–20

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