Abstract
Of coral, Luca Contile noted in his 1574 book of imprese, “molti vano di portarlo per difendersi dal mal caduco, alcuni per ischifar la malenconia, altri li usano per vitare le cose spaventose.” This paper explores the use of coral as an apotropaic amulet in sixteenth-century Italy in relation to contemporary theories of spiritual and physical danger. Evolving beliefs around the role of malevolent vapors in a range of threats, from plague to enchantment, coincided with the characterization of coral in literary and visual sources as a sensitive substance capable, through its own transformation from plant to stone, of protecting and strengthening the vulnerable body against airborne fears. At the heart of this project is the inextricability of religion, science, and magic in early modern Italy. In addition to analyzing coral’s power as conveyed in devotional and mythological imagery and medical, philosophical, and theological literature, this paper gives particular weight to coral’s prominence in late-Cinquecento imprese, emblematic pairings of image and text with moralizing and spiritual meanings.
Presenters
Cara WolahanStudent, PhD, The Warburg Institute, University of London, London, City of, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fragile Meanings: Vulnerability in the Study of Religions and Spirituality
KEYWORDS
CORAL, EARLY MODERN, RENAISSANCE, ITALY, CINQUECENTO, RELIGION, SCIENCE, MEDICINE, MAGIC
