Review_Of_Rosand’s_“Venetia_Figurata__The_Iconography_Of_A_M

Review Of Rosand’s “Venetia Figurata: The Iconography Of A Myth” Review of Rosand’s “Venetia Figurata: the Iconography of a Myth” Venice personified, or Venetia, is probably the most influential mythical figure to shape an entire worlds view on one city in the whole of modern history. David Rosand explains this icon who embodied the beliefs and reputation of the Republic of Venice, through each one of her personified virtues as they came into existence in the art and literature of the time. By the end of the 14th century, Venetia came to be known as the icon for Justice, a regal retributive figure that sits on the leonine throne of St. Mark (the patron saint of Venice). Rosand explains this and others using the many paintings and medallions of the Venetia Figurata from the middle of the Trecento to the start of the 17th century. He examines each piece by first explaining the virtue or persons being personified in Venetia and then explaining the surrounding space and how it fits into his translation of the piece. Through many years and artworks, Venetia became an icon that would embody such virtues and persons as Justice, the Virgin Mary, the figure of Dea Roma, and Venus. This was venetia, venice, state, one, justice, figure, face, virgin, icon, because, virtue, venus, through, personified, imagery, image, each, scales, rosand, roma, mary, first, del, century, came, world, whatever, virtues, venetians, using, ultimately, throne, therefore, sword