The idea of Giovanni Ferro (1582—1630) on the Introduction of a New Type of Rovesci Signs and Their Rivalry with Badges

The Italian humanist, author of works on history and emblematic, Giovanni Francesco Ferro (1582—1630) proposed in his writings to introduce a new type of signs rovesci (it. rouesci, rovesci, rovesio). These signs, in his opinion, could be located on the reverse side of the medals and were not inferior in importance to the badge (impresa) — honorary additions to coats of arms, which were willingly used both at the private and corporate and even at the state levels by educated people during the Modern Times. The heraldic crisis became the situation in which the search for new channels of communication, as well as signs explaining them, is clearly visible in the works of erudite and intellectuals of that time. G. F. Ferro tried to justify the introduction of a new type of signs into heraldry, but history has shown that the attempt was not successful. It is highly probable that due to the confusion of the term rovesci, which G. F. Ferro endowed with a special meaning, with the existing type of signs of heroglyphics, his idea did not take root — intellectuals and encyclopedists simply did not want to multiply unnecessary entities. Engaging in an intellectual dispute with his contemporaries, G. F. Ferro focuses on badge, various signs, and their relationship with rovesci. G. F. Ferro describes their meaning through an identification system, believing that they differ from each other in their own form, and that the emblems “look to the present and the future” because they instruct, and a badge can do the same, and rovesci is “turns to the past”. The lack of a clear definition, the confusion in the placement of the proposed signs, and the very narrow scope of rovecchio could also be the reason why this kind of signs with new semantic content was not accepted by the intellectual society.

Keywords

Italy, 17th century, rovesci, heraldry, badges, Modern Times

Received

18.09.2023

Publication date

31.12.2024

Number of characters

35529

Cite

GOST	Elokhin K., Tsyganova L. The idea of Giovanni Ferro (1582—1630) on the Introduction of a New Type of Rovesci Signs and Their Rivalry with Badges // ISTORIYA – 2024. – V. 15. – Issue 12 (146). Part II [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/S207987840033832-4-1 (circulation date: 26.03.2025). DOI: 10.18254/S207987840033832-4
MLA	Elokhin, Kirill, Tsyganova, Lubov "The idea of Giovanni Ferro (1582—1630) on the Introduction of a New Type of Rovesci Signs and Their Rivalry with Badges." ISTORIYA 15.12-2 (146) (2024) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840033832-4
APA	Elokhin K., Tsyganova L. (2024). The idea of Giovanni Ferro (1582—1630) on the Introduction of a New Type of Rovesci Signs and Their Rivalry with Badges. ISTORIYA 15(12-2 (146)) DOI: 10.18254/S207987840033832-4

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