Discorsi morali dell'eccellente S. Fabio Glissenti contra il dispiacer del morire, detto athanatophilia

A diological treatise on the art of dying. The text blends learned and 'volgare' literary traditions and investigates death at all levels of lay professional society. Through the dialogues, Glissenti includes among his interlocutors a Philosopher, Courtier, Captain, Farmer, Butcher, Servant, Beggar, Lawyer, Gondolier and an Actress. The final part explores the moral issues surrounding alchemist's search for the philosopher's stone. Large woodcut author's device (designed for this text) on all six title pages, encircled with the motto "Occulto gliscit". The verso of each title page contains a medallion portrait of the author, encircled with a continuation of the motto on the printer's device, "Aperte degliscit". Throughout there are woodcut head- and tail-pieces and ornamental initials. The text is illustrated with 382 woodcut vignettes by repetition of 117 blocks, arranged one or two to a page and flanked with borders composed of bones and skills. 31 of the illustrations are from Holbein's Totentanz (Dance of death) and 26 of these have been printed from the blocks cut for Valgrisi's 1545 Venice edition of the Dance of death. The blocks show Death in scences of contemporary Venetian life [Harvard College Library, 1974].