Bilder Girolamo Ruscelli (1504–1566) – Allegorical Coat of Arms of Guidobaldo II della Rovere – Engraving (1566)

Beskrivning

"Meta" depicts the personal device of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino. The central image features three ancient metae—conical goals used in Roman circuses—surmounted by crowns and set within a coastal landscape. This emblem is enclosed in a highly elaborate Mannerist border featuring reclining putti, winged lion heads, and complex architectural scrollwork. This copper engraving was published in Venice as part of the work Le Imprese Illustri con Esposizioni et Discorsi, which served as a prestigious record of the symbolic heraldry and philosophical mottos of the Italian high nobility. The accompanying text provides a scholarly discourse on the history of the meta and its symbolic connection to the enduring virtues of the House of della Rovere.

Girolamo Ruscelli was an Italian humanist, polymath, and cartographer who was a central figure in the literary and scientific circles of mid-sixteenth-century Venice. He was a prolific editor and author, known for his expanded editions of Ptolemy's Geography and his foundational work on the study of heraldic devices and emblems. Ruscelli founded the Accademia dei Dubbiosi and published extensively on topics ranging from linguistics and poetry to secret recipes and natural philosophy. His contributions to the visual arts were primarily through the conceptualization and production of high-quality emblem books, which utilized some of the finest engravers of the period to create lasting records of Renaissance symbolism.

Artist or Maker: Girolamo Ruscelli.

Dimensions: Approximately 26 cm x 19 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1566.

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.