Il "De apparatu Patavini hastiludii" di Lodovico Lazzarelli tra storia e mito: evidenze grafiche e paratestuali

This paper focuses on some graphic and paratextual features of the mss. of "De apparatu Patavini hastiludii" by Lodovico Lazzarelli (San Severino Marche, 1447-1500) in relation to the mythological and historical content of the work. "De apparatu" is an epic-mythological poem about a tournament of armed riders organised by the universitas iuristarum of Padua in 1467. The hastiludium was animated by mythologycal-themed chariots, which Lazzarelli described in digressions inspired by classical models, especially Ovid. The poem is preserved in ten manuscripts, mostly from the 15th century, and the editio princeps was printed in 1629. In some manuscripts datable to the 15th century, the comparisons with myth are highlighted by notabilia and by the marginal expression "comparatio"; a certain mythological erudition also emerges from the glosses of manuscript 1393 of the Civic Library of Verona. On the other hand, in the Paduan mss. the names of the historical characters mentioned in "De apparatu" are highlighted by various graphic devices: therefore, these witnesses seem to be more interested in local history than in mythological contents. The manuscript London, British Library Arundel 212, which supplies missing names or surnames as marginalia, is particularly useful for prosopographical investigation. This codex belonged to Johannes Pirckheimer of Nuremberg, who graduated in law in Padua in 1465 and is likely to have met some of the jousters mentioned. The analysis of the graphic and paratextual aspects of the witnesses of Lodovico Lazzarelli’s "De apparatu Patavini hastiludii" will therefore help to clarify the context of production, circulation and fruition of the work, in order to make an initial assessment of its fortune and reception.