De spectaculis theatralibus : christiano cuique tum laico, tum clerico vetitis dissertationes duae : accedit dissertatio tertia De presbyteris personatis
A 1770 Italian treatise by Daniele Concina, printed in Rome and sold in Venice, arguing against theatre attendance for Christian laity and clergy. The four historiated initials shown are woodcut letters C, T, Q and P, each framed by dense scrolling foliage, with the C and T enclosing small figures and the Q and P filled with leaves and flowers. A designer could take from them the compact, rule-bound logic of letters built from acanthus scrolls and flowers, suited to decorative capitals and borders.
