[Giambattista Lolli] | Manuscript of Sinopsi de sei capitoli componenti il Trattato dSinopsi de sei capitoli componenti il Trattato della difesa dell’Anonimo Modanese, 1762

[Giambattista Lolli—Modenese School of Chess]

Two manuscript works on chess, believed to be in the autograph of Giambattista Lolli, with illustrative games: "Sinopsi de sei capitoli componenti il Trattato della difesa dell’Anonimo Modanese", divided into seven chapters, 59 pages; and "Ginoco Piano esposto sino ai tratti piu necessari dimostrativo L'Offesa piu insidiosa, e spedita per chihail vantaggio del primo tratto division tre variazioni dell' avversario", divided into three chapters, 19 pages, altogether 80 pages (including titles), plus blanks, in a single hand, 8vo (148 x 105 mm), both works dated 1762, bound in contemporary patterned papered boards, worn, especially at edges and joints

These two works are connected with the Modenese School of chess, a movement that centred on the work of three lawyers from Modena. The "Anonimo Modenese", referred to in the title of the first work, was Domenico Ercole del Rio (1718–1802), so-called because his only book published in his lifetime was Sopra il Giuoco degli Scacchi Osservazione Pratiche d'Anonimo Autore Modenese. The two other Modenese masters were Giambattista Lolli (1698–1769) and Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani (1719–1796). They advocated opening with the Italian Opening and playing a fast-developing and aggressive game, in opposition to the ideas of their French contemporary Philidor who emphasised the importance of control of the centre and pawn formation.

This is one of a group of manuscripts by members of the Modenese school that was noted by van der Linde as being in the collection of Francesco Discart, a noted chess player and secretary to the Duke of Modena. Van der Linde, presumably following Discart, who was a noted authority on the Modena School, stated that these two tracts are in Lolli's own hand (see van der Linde, Geschichte und Litteratur des Schachspiels (1874), vol. 2, p.444). He further notes that he facilitated the sale of Discart's collection of manuscripts to the British collector J.W. Rimington-Wilson.

PROVENANCE:

Fransesco Discart; sold in 1874 via Antonius van der Linde to: J.W. Rimington-Wilson (1822–1877), ownership inscription