Imprese: Body and Soul

​

• Picture and a motto
• Not reserved like heraldry
• Pictorial
• Individual
• Picked for an occasion or mood
• Copying is encouraged

​

​

• Witty
• Puzzle/game aspect
• Part of tournament culture
• Part of decorative art: embroidered, painted, carved, sewn

​

​

Non Inferiora Secutus

"Not having followed lower things"

Marguerite Navarre's badge/impresa published in Claude Paradin's Devices Heroiques

Oxburgh hanging

octagon embroidery by Mary Queen of Scots.

​

Same impresa used by 3 women: Marguerite, Mary of Guise, and Mary, Queen of Scots

Shepherd Buss embroidery with emblems from Paradin

Fulmen aquasque fero --I bear lightning and waters

​

​

​

​

Portrait of George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland

Nicholas Hilliard

​

​

​

​

​

​

Tournament shield on the tree.

Tournament armor.

Queen's glove pinned as a favor to his hat.

Reconduntur non retunduntur

"Laid aside, not blunted"

​

​

​

Portrait of Sir Edward Hoby

Unknown artist

​

​

Impresa in corner. Lady holds a scroll with the motto referring to the armor in the foreground.

Dressed in armor with heraldry in other corner

​

Non sine sole iris

"No rainbow without the sun"

​

​

​

Rainbow Portrait of Elizabeth I

Isaac Oliver

​

Masque costume

John Davies "Hymns to Astrae"

Elizabeth is the image

Eyes and ears

Wildflowers

Rainbow=peace

Serpent of Wisdom holding the heart

Celestial sphere

Moon imagery

​

​

​

​

Milo of Croton

​

​

​

Pageant shield from 1470's

Antonio Pollaiuolo

​

Molded gesso with gilding

Masque Costume Design

​

Inigo Jones 1610

Nunquam procrastinandum

"Never postpone anything"

Alciato's Book of Emblems first published 1531

Accompanying poem

The elk raises the sign of the Alciato family, and it bears in its hooves "Never postpone anything". It is known that Alexander answered thus to one who asked him how he had accomplished so many deeds in a short time. By never being willing to delay, he said. And that is the meaning of the elk, for you might wonder if it is stronger, or swifter.

Prudens magis quam loquax

"Wise, rather than wordy"

In Cecropian Athens, its symbol the night-owl excels among birds for her wise counsel. She is deservedly consecrated to the service of arms-bearing Minerva, a post the chattering crow had earlier yielded up.

Maturandum

"One ought to move swiftly"

They command all men to hasten quickly, and to slow down! - neither too hasty, nor too long in delay. May a javelin, wrapped by a remora, show this to you: the remora is sluggish, the darts fly forth, sent by the hand.

Unum nihil, duos plurimum posse

"One man can do nothing; two can do much"

The son of Laertes, the son of Tydaeus: side by side the talented hand of Zenalis drew them on this wax tablet. The former prevails in the sharpness of his wit, the latter excels in strength. Even so, one is not lacking in the talent of the other. When the two come together, victory is certain. But a mind or right hand by itself, each can fail a man.

Mentem, non formam, plus pollere

"Mind, not outward form prevails"

A fox entered a theatre director's store-room, and found a human head skilfully finished, so elegantly made that the only thing wanting was breathing; in other ways it was like a living creature. Taking it up in her paws, she said: "Oh, what a head is this! - But it has no brain!"

Rules to make your own

according to Paolo Giovio 1559 Dialogo dell'Imprese

1. There should be a proper proportion between soul and body [motto and picture].
2. ​
3. The impresa should be neither so obscure that the Sibyl must interpret it, nor so obvious that every plebeian can understand it.
5. It should have a beautiful appearance, making use of stars, the sun, the moon, fire, water, green trees, mechanical instruments, strange animals, and fantastic birds.
6. ​
7. It should contain no human form.
8. ​
9. It should have a motto, which is the soul of the body, and should be expressed in a language other than the native language of the bearer, so that the meaning may be more obscure.
10. ​
11. The motto should be brief, but not so much that it creates uncertainty. Two or three words may be enough, unless they are in the form of verse.
12. ​

​

Other ways to get an impresa

• Borrow someone else's you like
• Select one from a list or emblem book
• Hire a poet/artist to make you one
• Chose a motto from antiquity

​

​

References and further reading

Alan Young The English Tournament Impresa

Alciato's Emblems in Latin and English http://www.mun.ca/alciato/

Ursula George's article "The Renaissance Impresa"

Michael Bath Emblems for a Queen

​

Claude Paradin Devises Heroique http://iris.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/gordon/gordonimages/Gordon1551_P37/index.html

The English Emblem Book Project (9 different period emblem books) http://emblem.libraries.psu.edu/home.htm