Francesco Albertini

Originally published as Opusculum de mirabilius novae et veteris Urbis Romae in 1510, Francesco Albertini’s guidebook is the earliest in date selected from National Gallery of Art digital collections for the Accademia di San Luca project website. Dated 1523 and written in Latin, it is the last of three editions printed in Rome by Giacomo Mazzocchi. This popular guidebook is divided into three sections. While the first two are dedicated to Roman urbanism and descriptions of Roman public and private buildings, the last one focuses on contemporary Rome as Albertini experienced it, with its papal and cardinalitial buildings, and offers praise for the urban reforms implemented by Pope Julius II.

Complete digitized book: IIIF Digital View (National Gallery of Art Library, Special Collections)