GIOLITO DE FERRARI, GIOVANNI GABRIELE, known as GABRIEL. — He is the most prominent bookseller, publisher, and printer of this name, born shortly after the first decade of the 16th century, and died in the early months of 1578.
He carried on a prodigious activity between the years 1536-78, with a steadily increasing and improving output through which he dominated, from his “Libreria della Fenice” in Venice, the publishing field of much of his century; he was, in fact, the publisher of most of the literary figures of his time. He also published numerous religious, ascetic, and devotional texts, and compiled two collections entitled “Ghirlanda spirituale,” in 14 volumes, and “Fiori,” in 12 volumes.
BIBL.: Fundamental: S. Bongi, Annali di Gabriel G. de F., 2 vols., Rome 1890-95; additions by P. Camerini, Notizia sugli Annali giolitini di S. Bongi, in Atti e memorie delle Reali Accademie di scienze, lettere ed arti in Padua, 5 (1924-25), pp. 103-23. Giannetto Avanzi