Frontispiece with a Dedication to Nereo Dracomannio 1600

Editor: This is Antonio Tempesta's "Frontispiece with a Dedication to Nereo Dracomannio," probably from around 1600. It's so ornate, even though it's just text. What symbolic elements do you see here? Curator: The winged figure at the top immediately evokes classical antiquity, perhaps a representation of fame or wisdom. Its placement suggests the intellectual and moral authority Tempesta wishes to imbue this dedication with. Editor: I see. Curator: And consider the cornucopias flanking the text. What do they signify to you? Editor: Abundance, prosperity? Curator: Precisely! Tempesta uses these recurring motifs to convey Dracomannio's virtues. These visual metaphors enrich the text, elevating it beyond mere words. The wild beasts and the winged head, what do you make of that dichotomy? Editor: It makes you think about the content of the patron's book in a new way.