500 years ago one of the largest and most famous Italian works in the world – “Orlando Furioso”by Ludovico Ariosto was published for the first time.
On this occasion, the exhibition of rare woodcuts by Dosso Dossi and Girolamo Porro in Valhrizi publication, which is considered one of the most beautiful editions of Ariosto’s “Orlando Furioso” was opened in the Scientific Library of Lviv University on November 18, 2016. It is worth mentioning that the first copies of the book were published in Ferrara and Mantova by typographer Giovanni Madzokko da Bondeno. Later, around 150 editions were published, many of them illustrated with woodcut technique.
“It is momentous that this magnificent event takes place in the Scientific Library, which also has a respectable age – more than 400 years. The premises in which we are, breathes historical books for more than 100 years now. I am convinced that this aura will contribute to the artistic enjoyment from graphics”, addressed the guests with opening remarks Vice-Rector Professor Roman Hladyshevsky.
“As a scientist, naturalist, I want to note that high standards in science and technology are impossible without high standards in culture and art. Understanding the history and values allows us to simulate future “, said the Vice-Rector.
“The real treasure of incredibly beautiful city” called University Library Ambassador of Italy in Ukraine Davide La Cecilia.
“I’ve already studied for very long, but if I had studied in this wonderful University and had the opportunity to work in such a beautiful library, I would have learned much, much longer and probably would have stayed here”, said Ambassador emotionally.
The Italian diplomat said that it was his first visit to Lviv and Lviv University.
Davide La Cecilia told interesting facts about the life and work of Ludovico Ariosto, focusing on his masterpiece, “Orlando Furioso”.
The director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Kyiv Anna Pastore spoke on the anniversary celebration of the brilliant work of Ariosto in his homeland.
“Italy plays a special role in the history of humanistic culture. Urban development, university traditions, new literary and historiographical forms, after all, the reform of writing were crucial for the prospects of all European nations”, said the director of the Scientific Library Vasyl Kmet. “Culture of Renaissance was an important step in the self-recognition of European cultures, in defining their identity through a rethinking of early achievements of ancient civilization. Pamphlets and treatises, chronicles and novels by Lorenzo Valla (1405-1457), Leon Battista Alberti (1407-1472), Angelo Poliziano (1454-1494), Matteo Boyard (1434-1492), Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533), Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) outlined not just the late Renaissance but also the formation of nations of new time. The activity of the then Florentine intellectual environment also became a landmark in the history of the transition from a Latin to actually Italian tradition of written and printed text”.
The Director stressed that the “frenzy Roland” was a source of inspiration for Cervantes, Voltaire and Byron. According to him, not by chance Taras Shevchenko together with his character of the poem “Convict” looked for distancing from the bizarre and terrible reality in stanzas of Italian poet and humanist. “Ariosto was one of the precursors of the creation of early modern European nations. Romantic Shevchenko became the forerunner of the formation of modern Ukrainian nation”, concluded Vasyl Kmet.
According to Vasyl Kmet, Ariosto is sill relevant today. Besides the project of art presentation of 46 tables of engravings realized in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Culture in Kyiv, a unique exhibition of ancient Italian books of XVI was organized in the Library. there are two unique editions of Ludovico Ariosto among them.
На згадку про візит до Львівського університету та з метою ознайомлення з фондами книгозбірні, у яких зберігаються, зокрема й твори італійських авторів, директор Наукової бібліотеки вручив Надзвичайному і Повноважному Послу Італії в Україні Давіде Ла Чечіліа електронний читацький квиток.
In memory of the visit to Lviv University and to learn about the Library funds, which include works by Italian authors, the Director of the Scientific Library presented the Ambassador of Italy in Ukraine Davide La Cecilia electronic library card.