Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo..., page 21 (verso) 1563

This is page 21 from "Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo...", made by Matteo Pagano around the mid-16th century. The stark contrasts of the woodcut medium immediately draw the eye to the central image: a turtle encased in a wreath. The composition here is rigidly structured. Note how the square border anchors the organic forms within. The turtle itself, meticulously rendered with fine lines, presents a study in texture against the smoother ribbon and detailed foliage. There is a play between the implied movement of the turtle and the static, circular wreath that confines it. Consider the Renaissance fascination with emblems and symbols. The turtle often signifies patience and perseverance. Placed within a 'triumph of virtue' context, the turtle transcends mere naturalism, embodying moral attributes. The repetitive patterns in the border design above, act as semiotic signifiers, enhancing the reading of the central image as both art and symbolic language.