About
This mysterious work of art is an early Renaissance mnemonic device.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, spice merchants, devout pilgrims, and Knights Templar were common sights in Averara, a mountain hamlet that lies along one of the most important routes connecting Italy to the rest of Europe. One day in 1446, Don Davide Bottagisi, the local priest, unveiled an unusual fresco on the porch of the church. At the time (as now), artwork in places of worship mainly depicted Jesus, Mary, or patron saints. But instead of these themes, onlookers were confronted with an array of staircases, columns, and brick walls covered with Latin words. This was the Torre della Sapienza—also known as the Tower of Wisdom—a didactic and mnemonic device designed to document and transmit ethical notions to current and future generations. Simply put: this fresco was a didactic and mnemonic device designed to document and transmit ethical notions to current and future generations.
