Le imprese illvstri : con espositioni et discorsi
A Venetian emblem book of 1566, Girolamo Ruscelli's Le imprese illustri, printed by Francesco Rampazetto with engravings by Domenico Zenoi, Niccolò Nelli and Gaspare Oselli for noble readers collecting personal devices and mottoes. Each plate sets a small emblem scene inside a heavy strapwork frame with winged sphinxes, herms, putti, masks and motto banderoles—ready-made cartouches, borders and corner ornaments.
