La biblioteca perduta del cardinal Antonio Cerdà : esempi di committenza ecclesiastica romana alla metà del Quattrocento

This investigation - developed from the PhD thesis I libri dei papi umanisti. La miniatura a Roma nel primo Rinascimento, Firenze 2017 - explores a case study of an ecclesiastical library belonging to one of the most important cardinals and intellectuals of the mid-15th century, the Spanish theologian Antonio de la Cerda (1390-1459). Through the reconstruction of his patronage of illuminated manuscripts, in particular a luxurious series in three volumes of Nicholas of Lira's Postilla super Biblia, in Vetus et Novum Testamentum, it is possible to study the particular phenomenon of Roman book production. This refined library collection not only testifies to the affirmation of the new Renaissance book model, but it also reflects the vibrant and international artistic environment of the city of the popes, which attracted illuminators and scribes from many Italian regions and from all over Europe. [Publisher's text]