1785 ❧ Bodoni's golden age. [BODONI PRESS]. BAROTTI, LORENZO. 1724-1801. Lezioni sacre dell' Abate Lorenzo Barotti su i libri di Tobia, di Giuditta, e di Ester. Parma: Dalla Stamoeria Reale, 1785. 2 volumes, 4to (283 x 211 mm). Contemporary vellum backed patterned paper boards with green leather lettering pieces. Chipping with loss to first volume label, a bit of light soiling to binding. A beautifully printed example of the golden age of Giambattista Bodoni's Stamperia Reale in Parma. Lorenzo Barotti, an accomplished Italian Jesuit scholar, poet, and theologian, composed these Lezioni sacre (Sacred Lectures) as a deep literary and moral commentary on the Old Testament books of Tobit, Judith, and Esther. While the text holds standalone value for its humanistic approach to Biblical exegesis, the true distinction of this edition lies in its masterful production. Printed during the decade when Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813) was cementing his reputation as Europe's premier typographer, the 'King of Typographers and Typographer of Kings'-this two-volume set showcases the early development of his revolutionary neoclassical aesthetic. Rejecting the cluttered, heavily illustrated style of the Rococo era, Bodoni focused entirely on geometric purity, intense ink contrast, and generous utilization of blank space. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing