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This lecture explores the botanical treasures hidden within the frescoes of a 16th century Italian villa built by wealthy banker Agostino Chigi for his beloved Francesca Ordeaschi. Discover how the Loggia of Chigi's villa along the Tiber, decorated under Raphael's direction, features extraordinary frescoes depicting the love story of Cupid and Psyche surrounded by meticulously detailed vegetal festoons. Learn how artist Giovanni Martini da Udine illustrated more than 170 plant species within these decorations, providing a remarkable documentation of 1500s plant biodiversity. Examine how these botanical illustrations include crops from Africa, Asia, and the newly discovered Americas, offering insights into the period's diet and agricultural knowledge. The lecture pays special attention to specific plants like maize, pumpkins, carrots, and oranges, interpreting the paintings through the lens of modern breeding histories and molecular data. Presented by Professor Emerita Paola Bonfante, a pioneering mycorrhizal researcher from the University of Torino and author of "A Plant is Not an Island," this Linnean Society presentation reveals how Renaissance art serves as an unexpected botanical time capsule.
