Allegorical caparison for Antonio Grimani
A horse caparison and armour crest laden with peacock feathers, gold, a mirror shield and the virtues.
The right leaf (250r) is filled with a detailed description, headed by the name of the Venetian Messer Antonio Grimani, for an emblematic costume for a horse and its rider. On one side a wheel bears Prudence in red with a laurel branch and three eyes; on the other, Fortitude in white; the horse's overcloth is of woven gold sown with peacock eyes, the crest and ornaments are of peacock feathers on a field of gold, and a half-ball above the helmet stands for the hemisphere of the world crowned by a spread-tailed peacock. A great mirror on the shield signifies that whoever seeks favour should mirror himself in his own virtues. The sheet also carries a drawn plumed helmet and, in red chalk, a rider on horseback with a round shield; the facing leaf (251v) bears only a faint flourish and a short untranscribed column of words.
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Peacock-feather caparison on a field of gold
The horse's overcloth is of simple woven gold sown with dense peacock eyes, extending over both horse and man. The crest and roll are of peacock feathers on a field of gold, and above the helmet a half-ball signifies the world's hemisphere, crowned by a peacock with its tail spread over the crupper. Every ornament of the horse is likewise of peacock feathers, to signify the beauty that grace confers on one who serves well.
Allegorical figures of Prudence and Fortitude
At the centre of a wheel set over the horse's hind thigh appears Prudence, dressed in red, seated on a fiery chair, holding a little branch of laurel for hope born of serving well, and given three eyes. On the opposite side Fortitude is placed, dressed in white, with her necklace in hand; both figures are crowned.
The mirror shield as device
On the shield is set a great mirror, whose meaning is that whoever truly desires favour should mirror himself in his own virtues. It closes the programme of emblems that make the whole costume a moral device.
Plumed helmet and red-chalk rider
At the centre of the sheet a helmet is drawn surmounted by a plume, and lower down, in red chalk, a rider is sketched on horseback with a round shield. These drawings give visual form to the described caparison and crest.