Cabinet 8: Authorial Acrostics

The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is attributed to Francesco Colonna (c.1433-1527), a Dominican monk from Venice. Its authorship remained unknown for most of its life until an acrostic was identified formed from the first letter of each chapter, reading POLIAM FRATER FRANCISCVS COLVMNA PERAMAVIT, ‘Brother Francesco Colonna has dearly loved Polia.’ While this is not conclusive, most scholars accept this as strong indication of his authorship.

Francesco Colonna, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream, translated by Joscelyn Godwin (London: Thames and Hudson, 1999) Special Collections PQ 4619 C9 E5 1999