Figure 121
Types of Arrighi’s Life of Morosini: Comino, Padua
From a copy in Harvard College Library (facsimile), Google Books (scan)
1749
…we may say a word about the Padua edition of Arrighi’s Latin life of Francisco Morosini (De Vita et Rebus Gestis Francisci Mauroceni), a volume brought out by Comino in 1749 . It is set in a rather handsome old style character, a good deal leaded. Each book begins with a tasteless wood-cut head-band, with several lines of capitals in various sizes and variously spaced beneath it, and a large woodcut initial. The italic introduced in the text is unduly small in proportion to the roman letter and far too much spaced. The typesetting is irregular, the presswork very uneven. The imposition is, however, fine, the margins ample, and the paper in texture charming. The prefatory matter is neither attractive in its separate types nor harmonious in relation to the rest of the book. The title-page, with a copper-plate embellishment, is chiefly set in handsome roman capitals of various sizes, with some lines or words rubricated. It is not a bad piece of work, nor yet a good one: but it has a certain modern air.