Ágora (Jun 2022)

Paolo Beni’s Trattato della Memoria Locale and Applied Mnemonics

  • Andrea Torre

DOI
https://doi.org/10.34624/agora.v0i24.1.29407
Journal volume & issue
no. 24.1

Abstract

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The essay aims at analyzing the manuscript Trattato della Memoria Locale by Paolo Beni (1552-1625), which tested the classical mnemotechnic rules in the architectural structure of Santa Giustina’s church in Padua. By showing us a logical mental way to represent our memories through the introjections of an artificial external order, the treatise also implicitly suggests a way to analyze a real architectural space and the iconic-plastic elements that it contains, e.g. the precious and impressive wooden choir of the fifteenth century composed of two series of stalls with illustrated backs: the scenes of Jesus’ life in the upper side are semantically and mnemonically linked to the underlying emblems of Virtues and Vices.

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