Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo..., page 14 (recto) 1563

This is page 14 from "Trionfo Di Virtu. Libro Novo…," crafted by Matteo Pagano, showcasing a series of ornamental designs. Here, we observe interlacing patterns of floral and vegetal motifs, a common visual language across cultures from the Islamic world to the European Renaissance. These aren't mere decorations; they are carriers of meaning. The arabesque, with its endless, flowing lines, speaks to infinity, echoing the divine and the interconnectedness of all things. Notice how similar motifs appear in Byzantine mosaics, centuries before Pagano, yet are reconfigured here. This echoes the Laocoön's agony, a motif recurring through ages, each time imbued with contemporary anxieties. Patterns like these tap into a primal part of our psyche, a deep-seated need for order and beauty. This innate response ensures their survival and adaptation through the ages.