[MR] History Blog: Italian Duke's Private Study

[derweasel1 at verizon.net]

By coincidence, I have just finished reading "The Mind's Eye" by Oliver Sacks, in which he made passing reference to this very episode which Lord Mungo detailed, in which the Duke of Urbino's loss of an eye caused him to have his nose surgically notched in order to allow a greater field of vision to his remaining eye. A fascinating story (and also a fascinating book).
YIS,Swannoc Beag


-----Original Message-----
From: Garth Groff and Sally Sanford via Atlantia <atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org>
To: Atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org; Garth Groff & Sally Sanford <mallardlodge1000 at gmail.com>; Garth Groff Sally Sanford <sarahsan at embarqmail.com>
Sent: Sun, Apr 24, 2022 5:31 am
Subject: [MR] History Blog: Italian Duke's Private Study

Noble Friends,

Last week the History Blog offered a feature describing the Duke of
Urbino's private study, or *studiolo*. This tiny office and private room is
a masterpiece of rare inlaid woods, clever design, *trompe l'oeil* art, and
the sophisticated tastes of its owner.

The 15th century room is now open to the public in Urbino's Ducal Palace,
and it is a treasure. You can see several detailed views in the Blog piece,
and a brief video is linked to the story. Sadly for us, the narrator is
speaking in Italian, but the views of the room are well worth the click:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/63879 .

Most of us are probably not familiar with Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of
Urbino, but his striking portrait is an oft-reproduced icon in books on
Italian history and art. He's the guy shown in profile with the notched
nose and the striking flat-topped red hat:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_da_Montefeltro#/media/File:Federico_da_Montefeltro.jpg
. Yeah, him.

The reason for the notch, and his profile, is that he was a *condottiero*,
or mercenary general, and a very successful one at that. But being a
soldier had/has its risks. Federico was severely wounded in the face
(actually during a tournament), and lost his right eye. The notch in his
nose was added by the surgeons at Federico's request to widen his remaining
eye's field of vision and prevent him being . . . well, blindsided by
assassins. It must have worked, since Federico died of natural causes in
1482 at the age of 60.

Yours Aye,

Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
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