Giacomo Mazzocchi
Giacomo Mazzocchi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bergamo, Italy |
| Other names | Jacobus Mazochius |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, printer, antiquarian |
| Years active | 1505–1527 |
| Known for | First printed catalogue of Roman inscriptions (Epigrammata Antiquae Urbis), early use of large-scale uppercase roman typefaces |
Giacomo Mazzocchi, known in Latin as Jacobus Mazochius (active between 1505 and 1527), was a distinguished bookseller, printer, and antiquarian based in papal Rome during the High Renaissance period. Originating from Bergamo, his earliest recorded activity dates to 1505 when he financed a publication of Vibius Sequester’s De fluminibus. By 1509, Mazzocchi had established himself as an independent printer.
He was responsible for producing important scholarly texts aimed at Renaissance humanists, notably the first printed catalogue of Roman inscriptions titled Epigrammata Antiquae Urbis (1521). This folio included approximately 3,000 inscriptions spanning from the Roman Republic through to the Justinian era. The volume was enhanced with woodcut depictions of Roman landmarks such as the Pantheon and the Arch of Constantine, created in partnership with the Florentine cleric Francesco Albertini.
Mazzocchi also issued Latin editions of less prominent Greek Byzantine historians, including Procopius and Agathias. Catering to specialized audiences, he printed ephemeral works that have since become scarce bibliographical treasures, underscoring his status as a reputable printer within Rome’s humanist community. Among these are a 1509 treatise on Roman calendars, a 1513 correspondence regarding sculptures in the Cortile del Belvedere authored by Pico della Mirandola’s nephew, and a set of twelve panegyrics celebrating Cesare Borgia (1510).
Under the series title Carmina Apposita Pasquino, Mazzocchi released yearly compilations of satirical pasquinades—anonymous critiques affixed to Rome’s talking statues—likely moderating content deemed excessively critical of the Pope or curial authorities. Holding papal privileges, he also printed official documents such as papal bulls issued at the Third Lateran Council (1512).
His expertise in antiquities led to his appointment in 1515 as a Papal Commissioner for Antiquities alongside Raphael and other eminent scholars.
From a typographical standpoint, Mazzocchi is recognized for his early adoption of large-scale uppercase roman typefaces used in titles and headings, evident by 1513 in publications like Epigrammata. This innovation predates similar efforts by German printers such as Johann Froben around 1516, highlighting Mazzocchi’s pioneering influence in display typography.
His trail ends during the Sack of Rome in 1527, after which no further documentation about him exists.