Epistole eroiche di P. Ovidio Nasone

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of classical antiquity revived through 18th-century elegance with *Epistole eroiche P. Ovidio Nas*, a beautifully crafted 1762 edition of Ovid's timeless *Heroides*. This collection of imagined love letters from mythological heroines—like Penelope to Odysseus or Dido to Aeneas—captures the raw emotion and drama of ancient Rome. Printed on xii + 323 pages and standing at an elegant 8¼ inches tall, the volume features striking portraits that bring these legendary figures to life, blending literature with visual artistry. Collaboratively shaped by ancient poet Ovid and Renaissance-to-Baroque contributors including Italian scholars Giovan Stefano Conti and Remigio Nannini, alongside engraver Carlo Gregori and publisher Durand, this book reflects the Enlightenment's passion for rediscovering classical texts. Such illustrated editions were prized for their fine engraving techniques, where intricate portraits elevated poetry into a multisensory experience, making mythology accessible to educated collectors. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Libraries in 2008 by Jayne Wrightsman, this rarity underscores the cultural bridge between Rome's golden age and 18th-century Europe. Visitors will appreciate how it embodies the enduring allure of Ovid's verse, reminding us that heroic hearts beat across millennia.

About the Artist

Ovid|Carlo Gregori|Durand|Giovan Stefano Conti|Remigio Nannini (French|Dutch|Roman|French) · | |-0043 |1673 – | |0017 |1733

| |Roman, Sulmo 43 BCE–17 CE Tomis, Moesia|French, Paris 1673–1733 Amsterdam