Historical research

Historical research by Eugenio Larosa, document, iconography

Ideal of Blondness in Fifteenth-Century Italy

” Erano i capi d’oro a l’aura sparsi…” The Ideal of Blondness in Fifteenth-Century Italy The image of golden hair, romanticised in the literature and art of 15th-century Italy, holds a particular fascination for historians of Renaissance culture. This was a…

Pollaiolo Young Woman at Poldi Pezzoli Museum

Pollaiolo Young Woman at Poldi Pezzoli Museum – Articolo di Eugenio Larosa This portrait of a young Florentine woman, seemingly absorbed in her thoughts, was painted in the latter half of the 15th century and is now housed in the…

Milanese armor in Gubbio

Milanese armor in Gubbio The composite armor known as B3 is one of the captivating pieces permanently exhibited at the Diocesan Museum of Mantua. This work, of Milanese origin, is dated to around 1480, representing an authentic gem of Italian…

A Sforzesco Standard for Sigismondo Malatesta

A Sforzesco Standard for Sigismondo Malatesta Two intriguing missives for heraldry enthusiasts, especially those interested in Sforza heraldry. The Historical Context We find ourselves in the autumn of 1452. Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini and a skilled condottiero in…

Gothic Milanese Armor Royal Armouries Leeds

Gothic Milanese Armor – Eugenio Larosa Composite Armor Milan – Third quarter of the 15th century (circa 1475-1480) The armor preserved at the Royal Armouries in Leeds is a composite composition made up of different pieces of Italian production in…

The Sforza Condotta: Costanzo Sforza’s Loyalty to Galeazzo Duke of Milan

Sforza Condotta Costanzo Sforza’s Loyalty to Duke of Milan –Eugenio Larosa Below, I will present a typical CONDOTTA contract that provides an overview of the economy of the military profession in the second half of the 15th century. “Nel nome…

Arrival of Girolamo Riario in Forlì

Arrival of Girolamo Riario in Forlì- Eugenio Larosa Here is an interesting document preserved at the National Library of Florence in the Manuscripts collection (II, 368). This document tells us about the arrival of Girolamo Riario, the new lord of…

Shutsujin-shiki: A Ritual of Loyalty Among Samurai Before Battle

In Feudal Japan, the ritual of Shutsujin-shiki played a significant role in the lives of samurai. This solemn ceremony, conducted before heading into the battlefield, represented a crucial moment where loyalty and unity among warriors were confirmed and strengthened. The…

Horo and Cavalry Samurai: the Mysterious Balloon

Horo and Cavalry Samurai: – Eugenio Larosa   Step into the captivating world of Japanese military history as we delve into the awe-inspiring cavalry of the samurai. Among these remarkable warriors, there exists a distinctive feature—a massive balloon-like object adorning…

inventory of a Sforza man-at-arms

inventory of a Sforza man-at-arms – Eugenio Larosa Niccolò da Verona, also known as Nicolo Motagnia da Verona, was at the service of Francesco Sforza and was such an important figure that Sforza himself defined him as one of his men at arms, granting him…