Notes on Emblem 26
Emblem 26, Dottrina or Learning, is an emblem common to both Henry Peacham’s Minerva Brittana and Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia. The emphasis placed on this emblem is shown by the fact that the image presented in both texts is virtually identical. While the verses are significantly different in presentation, they convey a similar meaning.
A handsome old woman is seated in the middle of the frame, dressed in flowing robes that reach her ankles and cover her arms to the wrist. Her head is covered by a shawl, but her hair flows down her back. Her arms are spread in a welcoming embrace. One hand is open, palm up, while the other holds a scepter, atop which rests a rayed sun. An open book sits in her lap and a light shower of rain falls upon her shoulders.
Peacham addresses all of the emblematic figures within the image in a very poetic verse.
Her right hand shewes, a sunne that shines to all;
Blind Ignorance, expelling with that light;
The Scepter shewes, her power and soveraigne might.
Her out spread Armes, and booke her readines,
T’imbrace all men, and entertaine their love:
The shower, those sacred graces doth expresse
By Science, that do flow from heaven aboue.
Her age declares the studie, and the paine;
Of many yeares, ere we our knowledge gaine.
(Peacham, 26:4-12)
The old woman thus personifies learning and the knowledge gained through learning’s pursuit. She is old, but not frail or bitter looking. She has a smile on her face, perhaps expecting the lessons she is about to impart. This old woman tells us much about learning: although it wears on the body and takes much time, the path contains many joys. She also supports the idea of respecting the older and wiser, who have the time and knowledge and look for an attentive ear to share it with. Her arms are open, as if to embrace a relative, or more likely, a student. The book reinforces the idea that she is willing to share her knowledge with others since it is not closed and sits in her lap, so that eager students may crowd around her. The scepter and sun that it bears show her power over ignorance. The bright rayed sun burns away the black cloud that covers men’s thoughts and illuminates new ideas for them. Finally, the rain which falls on her signifies the natural sciences that flow from God’s grace.
Ripa’s verse is much more concise. He paints a picture with as few words as possible and gives us clues about it with fewer words than that.
The Age shews that Learning is not acquir’d but by long Study; the
open Book, and extended Arms, that Learning is very communicative;
the Scepter and Sun, the Dominion it has over the Darkness of Ignorance;
the Dew, that Learning makes tender Youth fruitful.
(Ripa, fig. 101)
Ripa’s style is a very direct essay form. His points come right after each other and much of the interpretation is left up to the reader. Only the old are wise, because knowledge can only be gained by long study. The book and arms show learning’s willingness to be shared. The sun-topped scepter banishes ignorance, and the rain, like water for crops, turns youth into something productive.
The idea of the rain as a physically or mentally nurturing substance is an idea not included in Peacham. It seems that the idea of a life bringing shower would fit better in Peacham’s verse than in Ripa’s description. Ripa’s description is written in essay form while Peacham’s is true verse. The life giving shower is more poetic than the natural sciences and would go with the more open and flowing theme of Peacham than the direct system of Ripa. It would be a good replacement because Peacham’s interpretation of it as the Sciences does not fit with the rest of his verse. The idea of the shower making youth fruitful would appropriately follow the image of her readiness “T’imbrace all men, and entertaine their love,” because young men are the most profuse lovers in the world.
Both Peacham and Ripa seem to place heavy emphasis on studying throughout one’s life. The largest difference between the two is the image of the life giving shower in Ripa. That the rest of the emblem is virtually identical shows that they agreed with each other on the focus of life. They also did not limit this virtue to one class, but applied it to all men, rich or poor, noble or common. This emblem is something that every man can identify with.
Works Cited
Peacham, Henry. Minerva Britanna.
London: Printed in shoe-lane at the signe of the Faulcon by Wa:Dight., 1612
Ripa, Cesare. ‘Iconologia-Learning.’
URL: http://f01.middlebury.edu/FS010A/ripa/Images/fig101.jpg
URL: http://f01.middlebury.edu/FS010A/ripa/Images/learning.jpg (Oct. 14, 2001)