Design for a Double Heart Monument 16th century

This "Design for a Double Heart Monument" was made by an anonymous artist, with pen and brown ink, over traces of graphite. Designs such as this would often be commissioned by wealthy families for commemorative or memorial purposes. The monument's architectural style, with its classical columns and ornate decorations, reflects the influence of the Renaissance, when the rediscovery of classical art and architecture led to a renewed interest in symmetry, proportion, and harmony. But here those qualities are being put in service of commemorating familial union. What does it mean to render private emotion in such a public, monumental way? The cultural references and historical associations of the design merge to create a visual code that speaks to both personal loss and social status. To truly understand this work, historians would look at similar designs, family heraldry, and the social customs of the time. Understanding this design, after all, requires us to understand its cultural and institutional context.