Ghirlanda: Di sei vaghi fiori scielti da piu famosi Giardini d'Italia, page 47 (recto) 1604

This is page 47 from Ghirlanda: Di sei vaghi fiori scielti da piu famosi Giardini d'Italia, made by Pietro Paulo Tozzi around the early 17th century. During this time, pattern books circulated widely, playing a crucial role in the transmission of design ideas across Europe. Within a rectangular frame, delicate floral and geometric patterns are arranged around an alphabet and a Latin phrase, "Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam," or "Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory." This phrase, resonating with humility and devotion, encapsulates the era's complex relationship between artistic expression and religious conviction. Tozzi's arrangements maintain traditional forms of representation, yet subtly weave in alternative narratives. These pattern books served not only as sources of inspiration for artisans, but also as cultural artifacts that mirror the values and aesthetics of their time. They illuminate the convergence of art, devotion, and identity in early modern Italy.