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Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Aldus Manutius (Italian, 1449-1515) (Printer)
Francesco Colonna (1433 (?) - 1527) (Author)
1499
woodcut (ink) on paper
(Manuscripts and Rare Books)

Written in an obscure mixture of Latin, Italian, and regional dialects, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (Poliphilo’s struggle for love in a dream) is the tale of Poliphilo’s love for Polia narrated as a dream. During his dream, Poliphilo searches for Polia, finds her, declares his love to her and eventually unites with her. In his quest, Poliphilo encounters five beautiful nymphs approaching the fountain called the “mother of all” (Panton Tokadi) in which they invite Poliphilo to bathe. The nymphs are the five senses: Aphea (touch), Osfressia (smell), Orassia (sight), Achoe (hearing) and Geusia (taste).

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

Exhibitions

2016-2017 A Feast for the Senses: Art and Experience in Medieval Europe. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota.
2014-2016 From Rye to Raphael: The Walters Story. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
2012 Paradise Imagined: Images of the Garden in the Islamic and Christian World. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
1994-1995 Renaissance Books and Manuscripts of the Humanist Age. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1990 The Power of the Press: Revolution in Communications, 1450 - 1600. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
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Geographies

Italy, Venice (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Closed H: 11 7/8 × W: 8 1/4 × D: 1 7/16 in. (30.2 × 21 × 3.6 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

91.400

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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