The Malermi Bible, vol. II October 15, 1490 Niccolò Malèrmi Italian This 1490 edition of Niccolò Malermi's Italian translation of the Bible is one of the earliest, finest, and most profusely illustrated examples of the 'golden age' of Venetian book illustration. Characteristic of Venetian publishing is the richly decorated page that opens the Book of Proverbs, reminiscent of the opening page of an illuminated manuscript. Here, depictions of King Solomon writing (presumably the proverbs) and receiving an audience from his comfortable throne are surrounded by an elaborate architectural framework, adorned with classicizing motifs. The same woodcut frame was used for the opening to the first book of the Biblia Italica, where it enclosed a series of scenes of the Creation. Other pages of the book feature two columns of text, enlivened on nearly every page with small vignette or column cuts, another novel feature of Venetian book illustration in this period. The woodcut frames and many of th