Cento Favole Morali (100 moral fables) 1570

Giovanni Maria Verdizotti made this woodcut, titled "The Crow and the Serpent," in the 16th century, part of a larger collection of moral fables. The image depicts a crow attacking a snake amidst a classical landscape. Verdizotti's work reflects the renewed interest in classical literature and philosophy during the Renaissance. The choice of a fable, a common genre in ancient Greece, is itself significant. The inclusion of classical ruins in the background further emphasizes this connection. But more than just a revival of old forms, this print engages with questions about ethics and behavior, using the fable as a way to impart moral lessons to its viewers. It was made in Venice, which, during this time, was a center for printing and the distribution of knowledge. Understanding Verdizotti's work requires us to look at the broader publishing environment of 16th-century Italy. We might investigate the role of illustrations in conveying meaning, and the relationship between text and image in early printed books. This is how we can appreciate the artwork as a product of a specific historical and institutional context.