I "GEROGLIFICI MORALI" DI MARIA ALBERGHETTI UNA VOCE DELLE DIMESSE TRA SIMBOLISMO E MISSIONE EDUCATIVA

This essay considers the "Geroglifici morali" (Moral Hieroglyphs), a section of the poetry collection "Giardino di poesie spirituali" published in the name of the Venetian Maria Alberghetti a decade after her death by the sisters of the ‘dimesse’ congregation (1674). After a brief reconstruction of the biographical events around the composition and publishing of the collection, this particular section that was not included in the "Libro di cantici spirituali" – that is, the collection edited by the author herself – is studied. The "geroglifici" all come from autograph manuscripts and are designed for the education and spiritual formation of the nuns, so resemble a homily in style. They also use much symbolism to explore the moral life as was popular in sermons of the time, in line with the practice of ‘concettismo’, also frequently used in the creation of emblems. They show how neatly Alberghetti’s writings fitted the Baroque style of sacred writings, as well as the versatility of their author. The symbology obviously has evangelical and biblical roots, using symbols found in the parables of Christ, but is adapted to a form of spirituality fitted to the dimesse. Particularly notable is the ‘domestic’ style seen in the highly musical, fluid verses, which suggests a specifically feminine sensibility.