Pirro Ligorio’s Life of Hippolytus

This manuscript contains sixteen autograph drawings by the painter, architect, and antiquarian Pirro Ligorio (1513–1583). Born in Naples, Ligorio spent much of his career in Rome, in the service of the popes and of the powerful Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este (1509–1572); he served as architect at the Vatican palace and was responsible for much of the design of the Villa d’Este at Tivoli. In 1568, he was appointed court antiquarian to Duke Alfonso II d’Este and moved to Ferrara. This manuscript was composed there but had been commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito, for Ligorio sent the manuscript from Ferrara to Rome in November 1569, accompanied by an apology for the delay in its completion.

The drawings and Ligorio’s commentary relate the story of Hippolytus (Ippolito in Italian, and thus the cardinal’s namesake). Hippolytus was the son of the mythical hero Theseus. After repulsing the advances of Phaedra, his stepmother, Hippolytus was forced to flee his father’s house after Phaedra falsely accused him of raping her. As a result of Theseus’s appeal to Poseidon, a sea monster frightened Hippolytus’s horses, which then dragged him to his death.

According to an old tradition reflected in the title page, which was probably added in the seventeenth century, Cardinal Ippolito d’Este wished to have a set of tapestries made after Ligorio’s drawings, although these were never executed. The artist signed the manuscript, as was his custom, Pyrrho Ligorio Romano Meisopogniero, that is, "hater of the wicked".

Pirro Ligorio
ca. 1513–1583
Life of Hippolytus/Virbius, ca. 1568
Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper
2006.22
See more information »

Thumbnails

Front cover, inside–front fly leaf recto

Second front fly leaf verso–Folio 1 recto

Folios 1 verso–2 recto

Folios 2 verso–3 recto

Folios 3 verso–4 recto

Folios 4 verso–5 recto

Folios 5 verso–6 recto

Folios 6 verso–7 recto

Folios 7 verso–8 recto

Folios 8 verso–9 recto

Folios 9 verso–10 recto

Folios 10 verso–11 recto

Folios 11 verso–12 recto

Folios 12 verso–13 recto

Folios 13 verso–14 recto

Folios 14 verso–15 recto

Folios 15 verso–16 recto

Folios 16 verso–17 recto

Folios 17 verso–18 recto

Folios 18 verso–19 recto

Folios 19 verso–20 recto

Back flyleaf–Back cover, inner

Back cover

Front cover

Download image:

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583 Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Front cover, inside–front fly leaf recto

Download image:

Front cover, inside–front fly leaf recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Second front fly leaf verso–Folio 1 recto

Download image:

Second front fly leaf verso–Folio 1 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 1 verso–2 recto

Download image:

Folios 1 verso–2 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 2 verso–3 recto

Download image:

Folios 2 verso–3 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 3 verso–4 recto

Download image:

Folios 3 verso–4 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 4 verso–5 recto

Download image:

Folios 4 verso–5 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 5 verso–6 recto

Download image:

Folios 5 verso–6 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 6 verso–7 recto

Download image:

Folios 6 verso–7 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 7 verso–8 recto

Download image:

Folios 7 verso–8 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 8 verso–9 recto

Download image:

Folios 8 verso–9 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 9 verso–10 recto

Download image:

Folios 9 verso–10 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 10 verso–11 recto

Download image:

Folios 10 verso–11 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 11 verso–12 recto

Download image:

Folios 11 verso–12 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 12 verso–13 recto

Download image:

Folios 12 verso–13 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 13 verso–14 recto

Download image:

Folios 13 verso–14 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 14 verso–15 recto

Download image:

Folios 14 verso–15 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 15 verso–16 recto

Download image:

Folios 15 verso–16 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 16 verso–17 recto

Download image:

Folios 16 verso–17 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 17 verso–18 recto

Download image:

Folios 17 verso–18 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 18 verso–19 recto

Download image:

Folios 18 verso–19 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Folios 19 verso–20 recto

Download image:

Folios 19 verso–20 recto

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Back flyleaf–Back cover, inner

Download image:

Back flyleaf–Back cover, inner

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »

Back cover

Download image:

Pirro Ligorio

Approximately 1513-1583

Life of Hippolytus/Virbius

ca. 1568

Pen and brown ink, with brown and gray wash, over black chalk, on paper.

12 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches (324 x 222 mm)

2006.22

See more information »