Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

work printed by Manutius

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is a famous book printed in 1499 by Aldus Manutius. It is known for its exceptional woodcuts and was printed using a roman typeface, a style that became prevalent in Italy during the Renaissance. Aldus Manutius the Elder, a leading figure in printing and typography, established the Aldine Press and was known for producing small, well-edited pocket-sized books of classical texts. While Aldus Manutius the Younger also worked at the Aldine Press, he is not directly associated with the printing of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. The book's author is believed to be Francesco Colonna.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

graphic design
Renaissance book design
…was the Aldine Press’s 1499 Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, believed to be written by Francesco Colonna. The design of the work achieves an understated simplicity and tonal harmony, and its elegant synthesis of type and image has seldom been equaled. The layout combined exquisitely light woodcuts by an anonymous illustrator with roman…
Read More
…was the Aldine Press’s 1499 Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, believed to be written by Francesco Colonna. The design of the work achieves an understated simplicity and tonal harmony, and its elegant synthesis of type and image has seldom been equaled. The layout combined exquisitely light woodcuts by an anonymous illustrator with roman…
Read More

history of publishing
Printed illustrations
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, printed by Aldus Manutius in 1499, is a monument to the early perfection of the woodcut and to book illustration in general. Equally as important as the reproduction of great art was the opportunity that printed illustrations offered for the faithful reproduction of…
Read More
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, printed by Aldus Manutius in 1499, is a monument to the early perfection of the woodcut and to book illustration in general. Equally as important as the reproduction of great art was the opportunity that printed illustrations offered for the faithful reproduction of…
Read More