Des anges Autour de Septem principum angelorum orationes cum antiquis imaginibus (1594) d’Antonio Duca : texte(s) / image(s)

The 17th century saw the triumph of a devotion to the Gardian Angel characteristic of the Counter-Reformation, as shown by the numerous publications dealing with it. The Bibliothèque Municipale de Caen has a copy of a rare edition of Septem principium angelorum orationes cum antiquis imaginibus, (Napoli, 1594) identical to the editio princeps (Venice, 1543). Its author, Antonio Duca (1491-1564) was a Sicilian priest, active in Rome in several papal courts. The work, illustrated with twelve copper engravings, was used for personal devotion. We consider the role of the work and of its author in the growth of this new devotion that formed a particular moment in the religious and cultural history of the 15th century.