Rosanne
In a thread I said I had been unable to find a Visconti origin of the Motto A Bon Droyt. Indeed all the books I had on Milan, without exception said it was a Sforza device. Kaplan had said it was a Visconti device, and I went looking- finally deciding to look at the illuminators of the Milan court- voila!
Tomasino Da Vimercate was an Italian illuminator. He was the most prolific artist at work in Milan in the decades either side of 1400, illustrating manuscripts for both secular and ecclesiastical patrons. He was paid in 1409 for illuminating the first volume of the Ambrosianae copied for the Cathedral of Milan. He was also the Master of the Modena hours.
http://www.codicesillustres.com/pdf/Master_Modena_Hours.pdf
The background of some of the pages is so like Milanese Brocaded Velvet with Gold and silk- a red yardage today would be coincidentally called Sforza Fabric. It is very expensive and makes one's Bank Manager cry.
Anyway down the tubes with another theory............I will have to take another Tack as they say
~Rosanne
Tomasino Da Vimercate was an Italian illuminator. He was the most prolific artist at work in Milan in the decades either side of 1400, illustrating manuscripts for both secular and ecclesiastical patrons. He was paid in 1409 for illuminating the first volume of the Ambrosianae copied for the Cathedral of Milan. He was also the Master of the Modena hours.
http://www.codicesillustres.com/pdf/Master_Modena_Hours.pdf
GIOVANNI MARIA VISCONTI (1389-1412), duke of Milan. Grant of arms and investiture with the county of Cemmo and Cimbergo to Boccacino and Bartolomeo della Torre, in Latin. MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM ILLUMINATED BY TOMASINO DA VIMERCATE
[Milan, 23 October 1410]
Single sheet, 465x675mm (520x675mm unfolded), 58 lines, written in brown ink in a small rounded gothic bookhand by Giovanni Moroni, notary and scribe to the Duke of Milan; display capitals alternately in red and blue flourished with the constrasting colour. Illuminated border on three sides made up of attenuated, scrolling acanthus leaves of blue, red, green and pink; containing on the left the biscia of the Visconti, an entwined blue dragon swallowing a small red man; in the upper margin the arms of Giovanni Maria Visconti with the biscia quartered with the imperial eagle and the sol cum columba device, a rayed sun containing a white dove and the motto a bon droit. In the centre of the deed a shield with the arms granted to the della Torre brothers: per pale or and gules, a displayed imperial eagle sable and argent. Subscribed by three notaries with their marks (slight rubbing, wear at folds, small hole with loss of text, lacks seal).
The brothers Boccacino and Bartolomeo della Torre de Cemmo were invested with the county of Cemmo and Cimbergo in Val Camonica in the diocese of Brescia and allowed the privilege of displaying their coat of arms. Although this grant was given in the name of the duke, it was actually given on the orders of Domino Facino, count of Blandrate. Facino Cane was effectively the ruler of Milan during this chaotic period. After Giovanni Maria Visconti was assassinated in 1412, the present grant was ratified by his brother and successor Filippo Maria Visconti on 21 January 1413.
The background of some of the pages is so like Milanese Brocaded Velvet with Gold and silk- a red yardage today would be coincidentally called Sforza Fabric. It is very expensive and makes one's Bank Manager cry.
Anyway down the tubes with another theory............I will have to take another Tack as they say
~Rosanne