Statue of Thomas Philologus or Statue of Thomas Rangone by Jacopo Sansovino.
Rangone was known to constantly boast about his vast knowledge in astrology, medicine and languages and he also claimed that his own personal library was one of the Seven Wonders of the World!!
Rangone had made his fortune through the alleged discovery of a ‘cure’ for syphilis, though he denied that the disease was transmitted solely via sex. According to his theory, the disease was a result of natural causes and his remedy came from the recently-discovered New World, where the natives had long been expert in finding natural remedies for different diseases. His recipe for long life involved a healthy lifestyle, minimal consumption of medicines, rigorous self-discipline and frequent prayer to one’s guardian angel and the stars.
Rangone is seen seated on a sarcophagus and wearing a professional gown, as if in the act of imparting to the world his vast knowledge, The hemispherical space within which he is depicted is a symbol of the Heavens above the Earth.
To the left, a terrestrial globe is shown on a table together with some books. Inclined in the opposite direction to the celestial globe, it shows at its centre the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and South America. Between these two globes, Tommaso is shown seated and holding a book in his left hand within which the word DEUS and the abbreviation HIQ (Hinc Illincque) can be read, which might be translated as meaning “on one side and the other” or “on each side”. The message is that God can be contemplated on Earth as in Heaven.
In his right hand, Rangone holds the plant discovered in South America, to which he would give the name “Indian wood” or “holy wood”. The divine presence thus manifests itself on both sides of the Atlantic, just as it does in both the celestial and terrestrial spheres.
There are three inscriptions on the façade. The one in Latin gives biographical and juridical information, the one in Greek praises his cultural achievements, and the third, in Hebrew, recalls the possibility of achieving on Earth the divine project of living to the age of 120.
Posted by Insher on 2018-12-20 19:47:40
Tagged: , The Chiesa di San Giuliano (St Julian) , Italy , Italia , Church , Venice , Venezia , statue , sculpture
