To the ancient mind, the body of a woman and the body of the Earth seemed similar in function. Just as the female form produced life so did the earth. The Earth was portrayed as a Great Goddess, mother of all, everywhere, serving as ruler over food that springs forth. Greco/Roman mythos claimed the Sacred Feminine mythos in the form of the goddess Demeter (Ceres), whose symbolic attribute was the virgin hold a sheaf of wheat. In fact, the island of Sicily was an entirely devoted to the worship of Demeter, according to the histories of Pindar, Ovid and Herodotus. Christianity claimed a portion of the Sacred Feminine mythos with the Blessed Virgin as fertile soil, the wheat being God’s seed, and baby Jesus, as the bread of life.
Nobles during the Renaissance era had a preoccupation with objects, art, and thought of classical antiquity. It was not uncommon for emulations in a variety of forms to occur among aristocratic entertainments and diversions as well as artistic creations for the home. Therefore, when the opportunity arose, through a Venetian ball at Gulf Wars, to create a representation of a wheat dress to wear to the ball. I could not acquiesce. Never let it be said that I would ever hesitate in diving down a very deep rabbit hole. Here is my rendition of the wheat dress:
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Baronessa Franca DonatoVandy Pacetti-Donelson is a milliner, costumer, illuminator and calligrapher, and researcher who is interested in all that is the Italian Renaissance. A true Florida Native originally from Saint Augustine, she now calls Daphne, Alabama her home. Vandy is known in the Society for Creative Anachronism as Baronessa Franca Donato, OL and resides in the Barony of the Osprey in the Kingdom of Merides. Archives
March 2021
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