Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts... page 49 (recto) 1588

Editor: Here we have "Les Singuliers et Nouveaux Portraicts…" created in 1588, page 49 of a book made by Federico de Vinciolo. It's an engraving and drawing; the bold, contrasting figures feel almost like a playful design. What historical perspective can you give us on this piece? Curator: Well, considering this book dates to the late 16th century, the Mannerist style jumps out. It rejects Renaissance ideals of perfect naturalism, embracing instead a kind of stylized artifice and elegant distortion. Note the elongated bodies, the flattened space, and the somewhat bizarre imagery. Editor: Bizarre, how so? Curator: Consider the scene. Is it mythological, allegorical, a decorative pattern, or a strange combination of all three? Its visual elements might refer to classical stories adapted in ways specific to the context and reception of late Renaissance courtly society. How would this intricate pattern book be viewed in that period, particularly concerning gendered codes of artistry, when women's domestic creativity was viewed in new ways? Editor: It almost feels like it's playing with those codes. Was this typical for the time? Curator: Exactly! These pattern books, though functional as design resources, often also served as sites for visual experimentation and the display of erudition, even coded social commentary. What kind of societal conversation do you imagine happening around books such as these? Editor: That's really interesting. I had initially seen it as a nice ornamental drawing, but I see there is much more to discover and contextualize. It’s quite remarkable. Curator: Yes, its visual playfulness serves as a window into a complex history!