Titelpagina voor Giovanni Bernardo Veneroso, Il genio ligure risvegliato, Genova, 1650 1650

Curator: The work before us is the title page created in 1650 for Giovanni Bernardo Veneroso's book, "Il genio ligure risvegliato," or "The Ligurian Genius Awakened." Cornelis Bloemaert is credited with this pen and ink engraving. Editor: Awakening? That’s an understatement! It feels like someone just blasted a trumpet right in this guy's ear! He’s sprawled out there like a classical sculpture on spring break, with cherubs peeking out from behind palm fronds. What a wonderfully overdramatic scene. Curator: The allegorical presentation connects the reawakening of the Ligurian genius with a flourishing maritime power, likely referring to Genoa's renewed economic and political prominence. The ships in the harbor are quite telling. Editor: Ah, Genoa rising from the ashes… or perhaps just shaking off a long nap? It's funny, all the nautical imagery—ships, maps, even an hourglass turned sideways as if time itself has been disrupted. Is that winged figure blowing the horn of destiny or just announcing happy hour? Curator: More the former, I believe. The winged figure signifies fame and the cherubs holding emblems with inscriptions add a layer of divine endorsement to Genoa's resurgence, imbuing it with almost propagandistic intention. It showcases the public role of imagery quite well. Editor: Propagandistic, maybe, but undeniably gorgeous. Bloemaert’s attention to detail is mind-blowing. Look at the waves, the rigging on the ships, even the disarray of discarded instruments. It’s a glorious celebration of chaos and control, all rendered in meticulous lines. Curator: It’s important to remember that the print was meant to introduce a book. These elaborate title pages were quite common and intended to frame the context in which readers approached the book’s arguments. Editor: True, but it's so much more than just an intro, isn't it? It's a little theatre of ambition, expertly staged and utterly captivating. I keep imagining what Veneroso’s "Genius" was saying as he awoke to this vision. “More ships! And get me a coffee!” Curator: Well, for me, analyzing this piece highlights how Genoa consciously crafted its image in the mid-17th century, blending art and political messaging. Editor: And for me, it is a reminder that waking up can be a truly theatrical experience, especially when destiny’s trumpet is involved.