Le imprese illustri
Girolamo Ruscelli's compendium of heraldic imprese, printed by Francesco Rampazetto in Venice in 1566 for courtiers and nobles who commissioned personal devices and mottoes. The 215 copperplate engravings set emblems—trees, dolphins, salamanders, suns, hands from clouds—inside architectural cartouches framed by sphinxes, herms, putti, masks and fruit swags, with blank motto ribbons usable as ready-made frames and ornament.
