Bartolomeo d'Alviano standard bearer

[franceso sbarile]

Some progress , the first side of standard (unfortunately it is not a flat so I have to paint the other side also )...
Cheers
Francesco

 

[Oda]

Very good Francesco!Please enlighten me on the meaning of the motto "Venena Pello".Is it something about poison and the fabled capacity of the unicorn's horn to extract poison from wounds? (unfortunately my Latin is not very good).

Oda.

 

[franceso sbarile]

Very good Francesco!Please enlighten me on the meaning of the motto "Venena Pello".Is it something about poison and the fabled capacity of the unicorn's horn to extract poison from wounds? (unfortunately my Latin is not very good).

Oda.

I'll try to explain the little poem in the Battista Pittoni book.

Quando solingo il candido Liocorno
A chiaro fonte va stanco per bere;
Per certo natural antivedere
Dentro vi pon primieramente il corno:
Che lui di tal virtù conosce adorno,
(O de' bruti notitie occulte e vere)
Che non puote alcun'acqua sostenere
Atro venen, ch'en lei faccia soggiorno.
Onde sicuri poi glialtri animali
Spengono la lor sete; ch'altramente
Di morte sentirian gli acuti strali.
Cosí giovava a le sue invitte genti
L'animoso ALVIAN con le immortali
Virtù, di cui la fama anco si sente.

The motto VENENA PELLO refers to the supposed ability of the horn to expell poisons from water, so when the unicorn goes to drink in a source putting the horn inside let the water harmless for himself and all other thirsty animals.
In the same way, due to his virtue, Bartolomeo D'Alviano maintain his folks free from any danger.

This unicorn ability is reported by Ctesia of Cnido, an acient greek who wrote about indian animals in the book Indikà where is reported the unicorn horn was used to let the poisons harmless. It is possible that he refers to the rhino 's horn.
Cheers
Francesco

 

[Oda]

Fascinating stuff Francesco.Thank you very much!

Oda.

 

[franceso sbarile]

Waiting to finish the flag a quick image of the shield. The Saint Mark lion is showed " in moeca" i.e. like a crab. It is a way to represent it taken from bizantine art. Lot of venetian shield arrived up to us show this kind of figure.
Cheers
Francesco

 

[Oda]

I love it Francesco!As I have already told you, I love the fact that you provide such sound historical background for whatever you do.Your works are valuable lessons of Italian medieval history for me.Looking forward to seeing this finished.

Oda.

 

[billyturnip]

Everything Oda said!
Love the work and the historical background info.

 

[franceso sbarile]

Finished at least !!
Hope you enjoy it
Francesco

 

[billyturnip]

Good work Francesco on a fascinating subject.

 

[Oda]

I love it Francesco!Excellent work my friend!

Oda.

 

[franceso sbarile]

Thanks a lot Roger and Oda, I appreciated so much your comments.
Francesco

 

[vincenzo]

Frank! I love so much your work!

 

[franceso sbarile]

Frank! I love so much your work!

Thank so much Vincenzo