Six Books on the Art of Gymnastics

...[yet] there is no doubt, most wise Emperor, that by the benefit of those writers in whose works some crude and shadowed outline of that art remains, it can be rescued from oblivion and brought forth again into the sight and light of men. This is possible if both the favor of Princes is present for this task, and if learned men skilled in antiquity are found who do not refuse to apply themselves to this study and to strain every nerve of their talent. Mercuriale is arguing that ancient knowledge isn't lost forever; it just requires two things: royal funding ("the favor of Princes") and hard-working scholars. Furthermore, why no one in our current age has undertaken a province of this kind, I certainly do not dare to declare; I know only this one thing: that just as the matter is of the greatest utility, so it is a task of immense labor.

And I, although there were many things that could have deterred me from it, nevertheless eventually began the task. Those things relevant to this subject which I had observed while reading various authors, I collected into one body, as it were, and reduced into a commentary. original: "commentarium." In the Renaissance, a 'commentary' was a serious scholarly work that gathered and explained fragments of ancient knowledge. This was done by me with great mental effort and zeal—with an outcome, however, as I have learned from the testimony of many, that I dare say was not unsuccessful.

This is the same reason that urged me—even though I produced these books and published them for the public dedicated to the most wise and prudent Cardinal Alessandro Farnese Alessandro Farnese (1520–1589) was a massive patron of the arts and sciences in Rome. Mercuriale served as his personal physician for seven years, which gave him access to the great libraries of Rome. at the time I was serving as his physician in Rome—nevertheless, even though I am entangled in the duty of public teaching and frequent visits to the sick, I took them up again in my hands during these last months. I have changed some things and added many others, including illustrations of certain exercises represented from ancient monuments... Mercuriale is famous for being one of the first to use detailed woodcut illustrations to show how ancient athletes actually moved, based on his study of Roman ruins and coins.