Afrodite : nova tragedia
Afrodite: nova tragedia is a 1578 Italian tragedy by Adriano Valerini, printed in Verona by Sebastiano and Giovanni Dalle Donne. The pictures are historiated initial-letter woodcut blocks, each a square frame of scrolling strapwork with a single letter (S, H, F, P) set in a central panel. A designer might take from them the compact, symmetrical frame system of Renaissance ornamented capitals, with scrolls and grotesque masks that suit decorative monogram or lettering work.
