6533b854fe1ef96bd12af54a

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Games that People Played in Early Modern Europa and the Emblem

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ABSTRACT: This study explores the existence and readership of board games in 16th and 17th century Europe of an emblematic nature. Such games may have derived from the conversation games featured in Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier (1528), a work which includes a passage on emblems. In the Spanish tradition, the Filosofia cortesana moralizada (1587) of Alonso de Barros is a book of instructions on how to play this highly emblematic courtly board game, the board of which has unfortunately been lost. Some English emblems of the 17th century also include emblems likely based on Castiglione that depict the courtier as both warrior and scholar. Future studies need to clarify the readership and social class of these emblematic books and their print history. KEYWORDS: Emblematic Board Games, Readership, Baldassare Castiglione, The Book of the Courtier , Alonso de Barros, Filosofia cortesana moralizada . RESUMEN: Este estudio explora la existencia y numero de lectores de juegos de tablero de indole emblematica en la Europa de los siglos XVI y XVII. Tales juegos pueden haberse derivado de El Cortesano de Baltasar Castiglione (1528), obra que incluye un pasaje sobre los emblemas. En la tradicion espanola, la Filosofia cortesana moralizada (1587) de Alonso de Barros es un manual de instrucciones sobre como jugar este juego de tablero cortesano de naturaleza emblematica, cuyo tablero, desafortunadadmente, no se ha conservado. Ciertos emblemas ingleses del siglo XVII incluyen emblemas, inspirados probablemente por Castiglione, que retratan al cortesano como guerrero y hombre de letras. La investigacion futura debe aclarar el numero y posicion social de los lectores de estos libros, y la historia de su publicacion. PALABRAS CLAVES: Juegos de tablero emblematicos, Numero de lectores, Baltasar Castiglione, El Cortesano , Alonso de Barros, Filosofia cortesana moralizada .