Bilder Girolamo Ruscelli (1504–1566) – Allegorical emblem of Alberico Cibo – engraving (1572)

Beskrivning

This engraving features an allegorical emblem dedicated to Alberico Cibo, presented within an ornate shield topped with a classical helmet and decorative mantling. The central image depicts a hand emerging from a cloud to hold a plumb line over a square stone block, symbolizing rectitude, stability, and the moral foundations of the subject's character. This work was published as part of a collection of emblems designed to celebrate the personal mottos and virtues of the Italian nobility during the Renaissance. The accompanying Italian text provides a detailed philosophical commentary and historical context, explaining the symbolic relationship between the visual device and the noble lineage of the Cibo family.

Girolamo Ruscelli was an influential Italian writer, editor, and polymath active in Venice during the mid-sixteenth century. He is widely recognized for his significant contributions to cartography, specifically his expanded edition of Ptolemy's Geography, as well as his work on linguistics and courtly emblems. His publication Le Imprese Illustri became a definitive reference for the study of heraldry and symbolic devices among the European aristocracy. Ruscelli's work is characterized by a high degree of scholarly rigor and an elegant aesthetic that defined the intellectual standards of the late Renaissance.

Artist or Maker: Girolamo Ruscelli.

Dimensions: Approximately 26 cm x 18 cm.

Medium: engraving.

Date: 1572.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.