Uses of Commentary Editions of the Latin Classics in the Renaissance: The Horace Editions of Jodocus Badius Ascensius

Research on classical commentaries in the early print era has begun to move beyond a narrow conception of commentaries as records of moments in the history of criticism and interpretation of ancient texts. In this contribution I argue that approaches focusing on the uses of printed commentary editions themselves may offer new avenues for enquiry and furnish important insights. The first part reflects on issues of methodology and reviews the dominant approaches to commentary use in recent scholarship. The second part develops the general argument by examining in closer detail examples of different ways of using Latin commentary editions, focusing in particular on commentary editions of the works of the Roman poet Horace produced by one of the most important figures of the early era of print, Jodocus Badius Ascensius (1462-1535). The examples concern the adaptability of printed commentary editions to different formats and intended uses; their actual uses as evidenced in contemporary manuscript annotations; and the use and re-use of commentaries by their editors and authors.