Re: italian

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "G&P" <G.and.P@...> wrote:

> Any idea what the winged creature astride an owl is?
>
> [re: http://images.vam.ac.uk/item/O159917/dish/?print=1 ]

I read on p. 133 of the Collector's Encyclopedia of Antiques (ed. Phoebe Phillips) that, in the Italian Renaissance maiolicas showing this allegorical imagery, "the angel riding an owl (presumably Wisdom) piously cautions 'The lazy man will starve'."

The owl symbolizes wisdom on account of its association with Athena/Minerva in classical times.

Cheers,
Francesco