Page 2 of 6
Re: Strength
Posted: 14 Feb 2011, 22:50
by Huck
pen wrote:Somehow, I've never found the idea that Fortitude is actually breaking the column convincing - it looks more as if she's holding it together (which would also sit more comfortably with the meaning of fortitude), although the break remains a problem.
Samson broke the column of a temple and caused the temple to collapse ... and also killed a lion.
Re: Strength
Posted: 15 Feb 2011, 08:38
by Pen
Huck, please give me some credit for a basic background of general knowledge - I'm quite aware of Samson, Hercules - even Lysimachus. I know that lions are used as symbolism for anything from strength to magnaminity and ambition, and the column represents security and features prominently in the emblem for Audacity (1758-60 Hertel Edition of Ripa), as well as having connections with both Samson and Hercules. Symbolism is to some extent interchangable and depends on context.
All I'm saying here is that I think RLG has a point in questioning Dummett's dismissal of Fortezza as a literal translation on those early Italian images, and musing on a possible answer.
Pen
Re: Strength
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 03:16
by Huck
Pen wrote:Huck, please give me some credit for a basic background of general knowledge - I'm quite aware of Samson, Hercules - even Lysimachus. I know that lions are used as symbolism for anything from strength to magnaminity and ambition, and the column represents security and features prominently in the emblem for Audacity (1758-60 Hertel Edition of Ripa), as well as having connections with both Samson and Hercules. Symbolism is to some extent interchangable and depends on context.
All I'm saying here is that I think RLG has a point in questioning Dummett's dismissal of Fortezza as a literal translation on those early Italian images, and musing on a possible answer.
Pen
Sorry, perhaps I should have taken my answer a little longer. Samson was used as an early picture of Fortitudo, and Samson broke columns, so broken columns were part of the iconographic program - without doubt. Naturally this doesn't exclude, that in other lines of the iconographic development also unbroken columns (or perhaps even columns, which were protected by fortitudo) were used and developed ALSO meaning.
For the Minchiate we've usually unbroken columns, as far I remember.
So a card with a castle and signed with Fortezza might easily present a protecting function, why not? We've different producers with different ideas and opinions.
Re: Strength
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 07:24
by Pen
Thanks, Huck. This is good - I'd actually quite forgotten that the columns in the Minchiate were intact. I must read through the Minchiate threads again too.
Pen
Re: Strength
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 08:47
by SteveM
Huck wrote:
Sorry, perhaps I should have taken my answer a little longer. Samson was used as an early picture of Fortitudo, and Samson broke columns, so broken columns were part of the iconographic program - without doubt.
Unbroken columns too, see for example Pen's post with image of Petrarch's triumph of Eros (2nd post in this thread) - Samson carries an unbroken column.
Re: Strength
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 16:38
by mmfilesi
Very interesting! Thanks, friends.
Rota della Forteza
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 18:38
by Pen
Another unbroken column from Huck's post on
this thread.
It's from: Triompho di Fortuna (Triumph of Fortune): Frontispiece (woodcut printed in black and red ink)
Author: Sigismondo Fanti
Venice: Agostino Zani for Giacomo Giunta, 1526
Printed book with woodcut illustrations
13 3/4 x 9 7/16 x 1 in. (35 x 24 x 2.5 cm)
http://catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/search
(Found by mmfilesi)
Pen
Forteza
Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 20:37
by Pen
By Sebald Beham. Her expression and posture don't exactly convey the impression of Strength or Fortitude - and the lion looks downright lecherous...
Pen
https://imgur.com/Nke02uU
From:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... erkeit.jpg
Beham is best known as a prolific printmaker, producing approximately 252 engravings, 18 etchings and 1500 woodcuts, including woodcut book illustrations. He worked extensively on tiny, highly detailed, engravings, many as small as postage stamps, placing him in the German printmaking school known as the "Little Masters" from the size of their prints. These works he produced and published himself, whilst his much larger woodcuts were mostly commissioned work. The engravings found a ready market among German bourgeois collectors, but were not much seen in Italy. He also made prints for use as playing cards, wallpaper, coats of arms, and designs for other artists, including many designs for stained or painted glass. He also illuminated two prayer books and painted a table top (now in the Louvre ) for Cardinal Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz.
Quote from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Sebald_Beham
Re: Strength
Posted: 17 Feb 2011, 16:28
by mmfilesi
Ripa: "fortezza"
«Armed and dressed women fawn [orange] color this means strength to be like the lion, leaning against a column, because its the strongest part of a building and holding the rest».
Re: Strength
Posted: 01 Apr 2012, 22:51
by sembei
Samson and the lion:
St Jean's church, Velluire, Vendée
Vézelay Abbey
Capitel de Sta María la Real (Aguilar de Campo)
Stretton Sugwas church, Herefordshire
Fontana Maggiore, Perugia (Nicola and Giovanni Pisano)
http://www.gicas.net/lower.html
A mosaic at St. Gedeon Church, Cologne:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mararie/6465167025/