Language and Identity: Ancient Greek in Early Modern Europe
In early modern Europe, ancient Greek was a marker of cultural distinctiveness. This gallery showcases objects such as personal items and portraits that integrate Greek words and phrases. These artifacts reveal how the language was used to express various individual, social, and cultural identities.
19 oggetti
This painting is an early example of the inclusion of Greek letters into the visual art. The upper frame shows the artist's Flemish motto in Greek lettering ("Als ich can"; meaning "as I can [but not as I would like]" or "as b…
This object features the name of the artist in both Hebrew and Greek, translating to "[Work of] Giovanni Boldù, painter". It reflects the growing acknowledgement of personal artistic identity during the Renaissance and embodies the ideal of the …
The example illustrates the use of single Greek words on art objects. Paired with that of a woman, the painting conveys a message of enduring affection. Its reverse shows a depiction of a roebuck tied to a golden disc inscribed with the Greek word ΑΙΕΙ (“…
This artefact exemplifies the use of Greek in the decoration of palaces. The plate displays two double Κ on either side of Catherine de Medici's coat of arms, along with an inscription of her Greek motto (transl. "Good hope triumphs over hardship…
This is a rare example of a portrait of a woman featuring Greek. The bowl held by the sitter shows a partial quotation from Homer (Od. 4. 220-21). It refers to the medicine that 'banishes pain and sorrow' and 'calms anger' 'of all'…
The case shows that artworks not only included Greek quotations from classical literature and the Bible, but could also convey more basic information about their creation. Here the painter added the date and his name to the lower part of the portrait (tra…
The portrait contains inscriptions in both Latin and Greek, the scholarly languages promoted by Erasmus. The Greek phrase emphasises the idea that Erasmus's writings provide a more accurate portrayal of his character than the visual arts (transl. &quo…
The image is taken from the Picta poesis of the French humanist Barthélemy Aneau, printed by Macé Bonhomme in Lyon in 1552. Bonhomme incorporated a Greek motto (transl. 'From labour comes glory') into his mark, which shows the victorious Perseus h…
This portrait illustrates how writing in Greek became an integral part of establishing scholarly identity in Europe during the 16th century. The famous French humanist Guillaume Budé notes down a line of Greek from Stobaeus (3.5.18), which reads: "Al…
The painting illustrates how ancient Greek texts could contribute to the creation of a cultured identity among the young aristocrats of the Italian city-states. The book in front of the sitter is a copy of Homer's Iliad, opened to the beginning of Boo…
The medal shows a portrait of Adolph Occo II, a physician from Augsburg, holding a book inscribed in Greek as "The divine Homer". A second Greek inscription surrounding the portrait quotes Ps 54 (55), 23 ("Cast your care on the Lord, and he…
This elaborate coffin was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and is notable for its rich iconographic programme and numerous Greek and Latin inscriptions. Three Greek inscriptions show mottoes of the Farnese, namely "Lily of Justice", e…
Like his father, Adolph Occo III practised medicine in Augsburg and had a medal portrait with many Greek elements. On the obverse his portrait is accompanied by an inscription identifying him as 'Adolf's son, doctor in the 3rd generation, 28 years…
The painting shows the artist at his easel, facing a blank canvas, except for a Greek poem pinned to it with a fine needle. The poem, written by Dominique Lampsoons in the style of the recently published Anacreontica, celebrates the liveliness of the port…
The object features a Latin phrase ('Golden Mean') and a Greek phrase ('Horn of Amalthea'), referring to moderation and abundance respectively, symbolising the pursuit of a harmonious combination of the two opposites. While the words on th…
The portrait shows that in addition to Greek quotations, newly coined phrases were also used. In the upper left corner is an astronomical drawing accompanied by a Greek inscription which appears to read: "Absolutely without correction". This phr…
This example suggests that the display of Greek letters can be meaningful even if the words are not. The scroll on the table prominently displays a text written in Greek-style letters, but they do not convey any meaning. Given the artist's connection …
As well as demonstrating the painter's erudition, the use of Greek may also have served a symbolic purpose. In this painting, the artist is shown inscribing a skull with a Greek text that may read: "Behold: whither, sometime". The artist use…
This object exemplifies the use of Greek in sculpture by a female artist: “Anne Seymour Damer from Britain made a self-portrait by herself”. This inscription not only asserts the sculptor’s erudition but also emphasizes her agency as a female artist. By o…