Brooches and the Art of Virtuosity

Santa Maria dei Fossi  (Holy Mary of the Ditches) was originally
an altarpiece on wood for the church in
Perugia carrying the same name. The work
was commissioned to Pinturicchio on February
14th, 1496 on Valentines' Day.
This Virgin Mary (detail of the central part)
became the prototype of many Madonnas
in the years to follow. The altarpiece
had a great success. 

The brooch that the Virgin Mary is wearing
in the painting of Santa Maria dei Fossi
(ceramic reproduction by Cama Deruta, the sample piece)

In the Renaissance period virtuosity was an art, sealed with brooches of different sizes and dimensions, both men and women could wear them as part of their clothing and confirmed that they were virtuous people, which meant that they were gifted with the art of accomplishing things well.

The Italian artist who best expressed brooches details in paintings was Pinturicchio (Perugia, 1452-Siena, 1513), one of the two major artists who inspired the ceramic art of Deruta, Italy besides Perugino.

Part of Deruta's traditional ceramics is detailed reproductions of paintings on wood, frescoes, and floors, works of art of Renaissance artists, most of the time honoring art cities (i.e. Deruta, Siena, Orvieto). Herewith follows an example of ceramic reproductions of the painting "Santa Maria dei Fossi" by Pinturicchio based on the original altarpiece.

The original altarpiece of Santa Maria dei Fossi, Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia, Italy
Click on the photo for enlargement.

The Peacock  is the symbol of Christ, the upper right decoration
altarpiece of Santa Maria dei Fossi.
(ceramic reproduction by Cama Deruta, the sample piece)

Grotesques from the altarpiece of Santa Maria dei Fossi, the upper right decoration
(ceramic reproduction  by Cama Deruta, the sample piece)

For Cosimo de' Medici - one of the greatest personalities of the Renaissance period in Italy- these are the ingredients for the success of projects and accomplishments: STRENGTH, the virtue of the action (speed), SILENCE, PRUDENCE, PATIENCE and VIGILANCE, virtues of the mind (slowness).

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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February 14th, 2012: Happy Valentine's Day!

If you are dating or you are engaged, I wish you to celebrate with a wonderful marriage; if you are married, I wish you to enjoy your love and alliance for a lifetime. If you are single, I wish you to meet your soulmate within this year. Hope is not a plan but for sure a wonderful companion and never dies, as it goes in Latin " Spes ultima dea". I met my soulmate as of this year, 2012 and before this happened I was in love with love!

HAPPY VALENTINES' DAY!

In this photo a plate by Margherita de Simone with the colors
of the Sicilian tradition. 

If you wish to know more about Renaissance tokens of Love visit my first blog: www.bertabella.blogspot.com

Semel In Anno Licet Insanire

A mask from the Carnival of Venice, this year on
February 4th-21st, 2012.
Visit the official website!

When I grew up we still studied Latin in compulsory school in Italy, it was about 1979 when this important subject was abolished. "Semel in Anno Licet Insanire" is the Latin expression that I remember with most joy from middle school and it means "Once every year it is acceptable to be crazy", referring to the Carnival rite of liberation and giving out the authorization not to respect conventional religious and social rules within its celebrations' time frame.

A curiosity about Italian Carnivals comes from the end of the Renaissance times and exactly from 1575, the date of the 11th Jubilee of the history of the Catholic Church and Holy Year announced by Pope Gregory XIII in the name of prayer, preaching, repentance and charity.  It was the last Jubilee of the 1500s and the first one after the Council of Trento (1563).

Indeed Pope Gregory XIII for the Jubilee of 1575 among other important dispositions abolished the expenses for the Carnival masks (and any other amusements) and donated the money they saved to the hospital for pilgrims of Filippo Neri in Rome.

The Jubilee of 1575 was very important for the history of the Catholic Church, a starting point of renewal and rebirth from the Jubilee crisis in the Middle Ages. About 400,000 pilgrims visited Rome that year, whereas the city of Rome itself enumerated 80,000 inhabitants only. Confraternities were the Jubilee novelty and among other services, they organized pilgrims' processions, to one of which Pope Gregory XIII took part naked feet like any other pilgrim and mixed in the crowd.

Original bronze medal of the Jubilee
of 1575 found in the fields in the
area of Deruta, Italy
(Front, writing "Salvator Mundi").
Private property 

The Jubilee of 1575 was very well organized and pilgrims were given or could buy for the first time commemorative medals that came in different shapes and patterns. The tradition of Jubilee medals actually started with Pope Gregory XIII in this Holy Year. We are showing here the medal that a pilgrim probably lost in the fields in the area of Deruta, we assume on his/her way back from Rome.

The rear of the pilgrim's medal of the
Jubilee of 1575, dimensions 1"x3/4"

The medal front represents Jesus profile with the words "SALVATOR MVNDI" (tr. savior of the world) while the medal rear carries the following writing all around the border: "IVSTI ENTRABVNT PER EAM AM IVBILEI" (tr. The righteous will go through this door on the Jubilee), within the holy door itself the date of the Jubilee, MDLXXV, 1575 and Rome underneath the holy door.

Thinking of doors, "Chiusa una Porta, si apre un Portone" is a popular expression in Italy translating "when a door closes, a gate opens", therefore you never miss your opportunities of rebirth. Sometimes life may unexpectedly open up a holy door to you!

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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