Elogi historici di Bresciani illustri teatro di Ottavio Rossi .

The present copy has belonged to Bernadino Faino, himself a notable Brescian. Faino has made numerous marginal corrections and annotations, many of which are of scholarly interest. For instance, the marginal annotations in the present copy possibly contain the only dating (1472) we have of the altarpiece by Vincenzo Foppa in Church of S. Maria Maddalena at Brescia (See Ffoulkes & Maiocchi, “Vincenzo Foppa of Brescia”, p. 79).

Bernadino Faino (1600-1673) was an Italian priest and historian whose life was characterized by both adventurous exploits and scholarly pursuits. Instead of continuing in the family trade as a blacksmith, Faino chose a military career, joining Captain Tiberio Tengatini's company in the Venetian Republic's army. His loyalty to Tengatini led to a dramatic episode where he avenged his captain's murder by killing the perpetrator. This act resulted in a trial and his imprisonment, but he was eventually acquitted in 1626.

In an unexpected turn, Faino was ordained as a priest in 1627, despite the serious charges he had faced. He served as chaplain and confessor at the Benedictine monastery of S. Spirito and was the General Superior of the Company of S. Orsola. His dedication to his ecclesiastical duties extended to his role as a caretaker of the Cathedral and director of the school of Christian Doctrine.

Late in life, Faino turned to the study of hagiography and local ecclesiastical history - the period during which he most likely made the annotations in the present work. His works were the product of diligent document collection and scholarly effort. He authored various texts on archaeology, heraldry, and the history of Brescia, though his claims, especially regarding local saints, were often fantastical and primarly a product of his imagination.