User:Codiascarefoot/sandbox

The Italian Birth Salver or Desco de Parto was an ornate and elegant plate. The Legion of Honor in San Francisco is currently home to an elaborate Italian Birth Salver. It was painted by Lorenzo di Niccolo. He was a Florentine painter who was active from 1391-1412. The Italian Birth Salver was created and painted in the year 1400 in Italy. Italian Renaissance painters provided religious images for both public and private devotion, but they also created secular paintings for the growing middle-class market. This medium was helped by the cultural phenomenon of people moving into cities. The city of Florence was attractive because it was a bustling city of commerce that was rich with history. In the 15th century, there was competition for power throughout Florence. The late 14th century (1378) brought the Revolt of the Ciompi, which was a revolt against the rulers of the oligarchic style of government. This helped bring an era of Democracy to Florence. This also helped bring about competition for power between the Albizzi family of merchants and the Medici family of bankers. This kind of unique environment fostered a special painting that depicted a classical scene of Roman mythology and helped illustrate family ideals. This decorative salver alluded to contemporary dynastic concerns such as charity and family lineage. Niccolo relied on classical iconography that illustrated Diana, goddess of the hunt. Diana is also known as Artemis in Greek Mythology. Narrative scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses decorate the obverse side of the Birth Salver. The story of []Diana and Actaeon is depicted through the artwork. On the reverse side stands the allegorical figure of Justice with two family coats of arms while holding a scale and a sword. This illustrates the cultural infatuation with the past. People believed that society needed a rebirth. They looked back into the rich history of the Romans and were inspired. This story depicts classic Roman mythology and serves as a teaching device because the art applied values and lessons of a bygone era that are meant to influence the Florentines and make them think.