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Dimensions: 31 x 41 x 6,5 cm

Plates paper: Al tatto presentano la tipica ondulazione e morbidezza della pergamena del manoscritto. L′applicazione a caldo dell′oro in lamina conferisce una speciale lucentezza e preziosità ad ogni tavola;

Plates box: le scritte sulla cartella e sulla coperta del Commentario sono in oro satinato in lamina;

Commentary: in seta con impressioni in oro e turchese;

Commentary pages: 272

Commentary illustrations: 156

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"A book with a divine title, Pacioli's divine proportion, divine historic illustrations by Leonardo." Piergiorgio Odifreddi.

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Aboca Edizioni presents a facsimile for professional use of the manuscript De divina proportione, conserved at the Library of the University of Geneva. This is an exclusive reproduction of the specimen that Luca Pacioli donated to Ludovico il Moro and that Leonardo da Vinci illustrated with his own hand in a series of polyhedrons. The work illustrates the applications of the golden ratio, via direct references to knowledge of algebra and geometry of the time and the teaching of Piero della Francesca.

From the introduction by Antonio Pieretti: "As it draws its presence from God in the universe, the divine proportion, according to Pacioli, is not only the language by which man expresses the sciences and the arts, but even more the language by which God himself created the world and gives it its name. The divine proportion, and consequently mathematics, therefore has a fundamental value. First of all it is the metaphysical principle by which each individual is able to understand the world and grasp the laws by which it was created and maintained over time. But it is also the way man was given the possibility to remove himself from the distractions of the world and raise himself to contemplation of God. In its paradoxical nature it therefore represents the way the creature can give thanks to his creator."

As well as clarifying the complex aspects of the De divina proportione, the commentary attached to the volume, entitled Anthology of the Divine Proportion, provides a current re-examination of Luca Pacioli and an illustration of his scientific interests.

Aboca facsimiles for professional use: fundamental works available to all. Legendary additions and splendid manuscripts, selected from the libraries throughout the world, have been reproduced using avant-garde printing techniques, complete with thorough and concise critiques.

Notes

Introduction by Valentino Mercati

Contributions from Antonio Pieretti, Piergiorgio Odifreddi, Duilio Contin.

Other information

There are only two specimens of De divina proportione in the world drafted during the life of Luca Pacioli. One is conserved at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan (ms. 170sup.), the other is in the University library of Geneva (ms. Langues Etrangères 210). A third manuscript, offered to Piero Soderini, is believed to have been lost. The intended recipient of the Geneva manuscript, where the Aboca facsimile comes from was Ludovico il Moro: his coat of arms appears on the first page of the volume, where there is also a written dedication. After having formed part of the Ami Lullin collections, and possibly Paul Petau's, from 1756 the volume could be found on the shelves of the Geneva University library, initially being classified as no. 210 foreign language manuscript.