Ratio atque institutio studiorum
Ratio atque institutio studiorum is a 1586 Jesuit educational treatise printed in Rome at the Collegio della Compagnia di Gesù, written under Claudio Acquaviva for the Society's teachers and students. Its four decorative initials are woodcut letterforms built from scrolling foliage, interlace, strapwork and a circular medallion, with dense black outlines and hatched shading that a designer could borrow for monograms, drop caps or ornamental frames.
