Catherine de' Medici at the court of France

Catherine de' Medici  1519-1589

A Barbie doll with the reproduction of the
original wedding dress of Catherine de' Medici,
created by the artisans of the city of Florence in 2008. 

Piegaro, Italy is a small town in the northwest of Umbria, historically considered as a borderland between Umbria and Tuscany. At one time Piegaro was called "The Little Paris".  Piegaro has a lot in common with Tuscany, you might even hear people speak with a Florentine accent here.

Thinking of the important tradition that Tuscany has in its relationship with France, I may guess why something French might be considered as classy, sophisticated, and elegant and echoing here in Piegaro.

As a consequence, there must be historical reasons for this French influence and the first princely person we think of is the Florentine Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France.

Catherine belongs to the famous Medici family from Florence. In 1533 she got married to the king of France Henry II and she became Queen of France in 1547 at the age of 28.  Catherine and Henry had ten children, among which several monarchs.

The classical scalloped dinner
plate in the Ricco Deruta
pattern (By Cama). 

During her reign at the court of France, Catherine de' Medici brought fresh air and innovations directly from Italy. She brought chefs from Florence and revived the French cuisine, she introduced the fork, that the French did not use and at her dinner tables she only used scalloped shaped plates  (that are still best sellers in Deruta versus the smooth rim plates).

A book about the art of  needlework
to learn the Renaissance original
style of Catherine de' Medici. 

Catherine was also a great "cultrice d'ago" (tr. expert in needlework) and she created her own pattern, nowadays known as "Punto Madama Caterina" (tr. Madame Catherine's needlework) that became very popular among the ladies of the court of France.

Catherine de' Medici was a grand patron of the arts in France according to her family tradition back in Italy and there is a long list of countless art activities that she accomplished at the French court, which made her unforgettable.

A close-up of the Barbie doll.
The artisans first reproduced the original dress
full size and made the miniature afterward. 

In Deruta many years ago there was a famous needlework laboratory owned by the Corcioni sisters.

Among their artwork, they listed the "Punto Madama Caterina" or "Punto Caterina de' Medici" which has been brought back to life in the past decade by the Cultural Association "Ars Umbra", located in Deruta, President Anna Lisa Piccioni.

Follow this link to admire a modern celebration of the Renaissance tradition of needlework in Umbria.
Follow this link to read about the latest exhibition about Caterina de' Medici in Florence, Palazzo Strozzi, 2009.

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Apple's apple and the Renaissance tradition of the "Impressum"

The successful Apple's brand logo
has classical origins. 

"Impressum" is a Latin word that in English translates "symbol" or "image" but it is more than this. It was a Renaissance tradition that nobles selected a maxim that was meaningful of their princely personality - usually a riddle or a play-on-word and a scene and/or a symbol. This creation was called "Impressum". The Impressum is very similar to a coat of arms/emblem, also known as a "device". 


Beyond Apple's success, an apple with a bite (a play on word with "byte") as a brand logo, there is an intimate relationship with the classical cultural codes coming from Greek and Latin traditions and in use in the Renaissance period. Apple's apple in particular is a synthesis of an original 16th century "Impressum".  Indeed Apple's logo is considered as the most meaningful example of how classical arts and traditions still influence the modern world of marketing and advertising. An interesting book about this subject is "L'originale assente" (tr. "Hidden archetypes")  by Bruno Mondadori, 2005 (ISBN 9788842492993)  curated by Monica Centanni, with many photos of current brand products. 


Monica Centanni is also the online magazine coordinator of "Engramma" (tr. engram). This is where we can read a more specific analysis of Apple's logo in terms of a classical uninterrupted tradition that started in the Renaissance period and is still vivid in the world of marketing. 

The original logo of "Apple Computer Co."
as per the classical Renaissance tradition of the
"Impressum".

Not long ago in one of my posts, I mentioned the motto "Festina Lente" (tr. haste slowly) which was Cosimo I de' Medici's maxim. In Cosimo's "Impressum" the symbol was a turtle with an inflated sail. In the case of Apple's logo the original "Impressum" was a scene with Isaac Newton under an apple tree with the saying “Newton... A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of  Thought... Alone”. 

The most important book about the "Impressum" art was written in the 16th century and is called "Dialogo dell' Imprese Militari e Amorose" (tr. " Military and Love Shields' Dialogues")  by Paolo Giovio, Bulzoni Editore Roma, 1978. In 1551 Sir Paolo Giovio donated the first copy of his book to Cosimo I de' Medici. The book was dedicated to him. Long-life to Florence, long life to Italian Renaissance. 

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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October 4th: Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Patron of Italy

A beautiful ceramics sign of a souvenir store in Assisi by famous artists Amerigo Lunghi and Serafino Volpi
 (Grazia Factory, 1923). 

Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated every year in Assisi and in all the churches dedicated to this Saint on October 4th, the day he died in Assisi in 1226, exactly in the place where the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli is located, one of the sites where Saint Francis lived and prayed.

It is in the Church of the Portiuncola, inside the more recent Basilica, that Saint Francis in 1216 received the gift of the Indulgence for all the faithful, the so-called "Perdono di Assisi" which takes place on August 2nd every year and is the second by relevance after the indulgence of the Holy Land. By visiting the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli on August 2nd and by following a path of prayers all sins will be cleared.

Saint Francis was proclaimed Saint Patron of Italy together with Saint Catherine of Siena by Pope Pius XII in 1939.

Many wishes to everybody by the name of Francesca, Francesco, Franco, Franca, Frances, François, Françoise, Franziska, Fransiscus, Paco, Paca, Paquita for their name-day!

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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