Andrea Fulvio’s Illustrium imagines
and the Beginnings of Classical Archaeology is a study of the book recognized by contemporaries as the first attempt (1517) to publish artifacts from Classical Antiquity in the form of a chronology of portraits appearing on coins. By studying correspondences between the illustrated coins and genuine, ancient coins, Madigan parses Fulvio’s methodology, showing how he attempted to exploit coins as historical documents. Situated within humanist literary and historical studies of ancient Rome, his numismatic project required visual artists closely to study and assimilate the conventions of ancient portraiture. The
Illustrium imagines exemplifies the range and complexity of early modern responses to ancient artifacts.
Brian Madigan, Ph.D. (1982, University of Minnesota), is emeritus professor in art history at Wayne State University. He has published books in the areas of Greek architectural sculpture, Greek vase painting, and Roman ceremonial sculptures.
Preface Acknowledgments List of Figures
Introduction
1
The Contexts of the Book and Its Author
2
The Republic: Vr–XXIr
3
The Early Empire: Julio-Claudians through Flavians: XXIv–LXIIIv
4
The Middle Empire: Nerva Through the Antonines: LXVr–LXXXIv
5
The Late Empire: Septimius Severus through the Tetrarchs: LXXXIXr–XCIIIv
6
Late Antiquity: Constantinus I through Mezentius (Maxentius): XCVr–CVIr; and Medieval Rulers: CVIv–CXVIIIr
7
Fulvio’s Resources, Methods and Attitudes Concerning Visual and Material Evidence
8
Addendum: Fulvio’s Model Ancient Coins and the Borghesi Collection Works Cited Index
Specialists and laymen interested in the historiography of archaeology and art history, the reception of Classical Antiquity, and the antiquarian and humanist pursuits of the early modern period. Keywords: early modern history, Renaissance, Italy, antiquarianism, humanism, art history, historiography, historical methodology, reception studies, coins, numismatics, portraiture, book history.