Dear Donald and others,Your memory is quite correct on fido. He does stand
(sit?) for fidelity, an appropriate virtue on a tomb and certainly common in
numerous paintings in the Renaissance, both north and south (see for example
the Arnolfini wedding by Jan van Eyck. Sharon
>From: Donald Jacob Uitvlugt <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: effigies and "fido"
>Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 10:25:09
>
>This is not my area at all, but I seem to recall that in paintings (at
>least Renaisance onward) a dog often stands for faithfulness/fidelity
>(fido=fides, so to speak). Thus in some paintings of adulterous scenes one
>can often find a dog asleep in the corner...
>
>For what a half-baked memory is worth,
>
>Donald Jacob Uitvlugt
>
>
>At 09:04 AM 12/3/99 -0600, you wrote:
> >Dear Listmembers,
> >
> >Last week I led a group of American undergraduates on a tour of
> >cathedrals & castles in the UK. At Salisbury, one of my students
> >asked if the dog at the feet of knights on tomb effigies meant
> >anything. Being <indifferent honest,> I said yes, but I've forgotten
> >what. I've been searching my bookshelves all week without any luck,
> >so I'd be eternally grateful for the information. I solemnly promise
> >not to forget again.
> >
> >Desperately yours,
> >Jim Kerbaugh
> >
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