MINIATURIST, Italian
(active 16th century in Venice)

Memoirs of the Freschi Family

16th century
Manuscript (It. VII. 165)
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice

This manuscript contains the history of the Venetian Freschi family up to 1572, various documents, a book of medical prescriptions and a book of household recipes. The text is preceded by a series of fine miniatures on the first eight pages. They depict thirteen members of the Freschi family, giving the name and coat of arms of each figure. The page shown here (folio 7) portrays Zaccaria Freschi (born in 1456) with his wife Dorotea. Due to the attention to detail with which clothing and hairstyles of the figures are represented, these miniatures are important for the study of dress and fashions of the time.