Massimiliano Sforza between Vice and Virtue (Donatus Grammatica), Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis

Latin grammar book for maximilian sforza 1496-99 manuscript (ms. 2167), 275 x 180 mm biblioteca trivulziana, milan this text of this manuscript is the grammatica by aelius donatus (active mid 4th century), a roman grammarian and teacher of rhetoric, the tutor of st. Jerome. It contains grammatical and moral treatises giving elementary instruction in verse. It was made for massimiliano, the son of ludovico sforza (ludovico il moro), duke of milan (1452-1508) and his wife beatrice d'este. The illustrations were executed by several artists, including ambrogio de predis and giovanni pietro birago. The decoration on folio 42v, shown here, in which the young prince is represented between two female figures personifying vice and virtue, is attributed to birago. Date: (15th century).