Four

Category: Four.

There is a series of nine coats of arms in the ballroom of the castle:

• Or, three Fleurs de lis Azure.
• Azure, a Bendsinister Or.
• Or, a Fleur de lis Azure.
• Azure, a Cross Or.
• Or, five Fleur de lis Azure in saltire.
• Azure, a Fess Or.
• Or, two Fleur de lis Azure in bend.
• Azure, a Saltire Or.
• Or, four Fleur de lis Azure.

There are so many Fleurs de lis that everyone, except the joker, calls it the «fleurdelisée» room. Nobody knows the reason why the joker says there is none, do you?

Think before you move the cursor or click on the following link and see the solution.

Categories: Riddle, Or, Azure, Fleur de lis, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Bend sinister, Cross, Fess and Saltire.

Categories: Riddle solution, Ogee, Outlined in sable, Freehand, Or, Azure, Fleur de lis, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Bend sinister, Cross, Fess and Saltire.

Or, four bell towers issuant from base Gules, windows Or.

Coat of arms of Alejandra Espeja Amieva designed by Juan Lanzagorta Vallín and emblazoned by me. As shown in the image, the bell towers are based on the Nativity Façade bell towers of Gaudí's Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

Blazon keywords: Or, Gules, Four, Bell tower, Issuant from base and Port and windows.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Semi-circular.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Schema, Boa, Collage and Photographic.

Bearer: Espeja Amieva, Alejandra.

Paly of four Ermine and Or, overall two fleurs de lis in fess Azure; enté en point Azure, an estoile Or.

Coat of arms interpreted by me, in plain tinctures, contoured in Sable, with a corset external shape and with a texturized finish.

Coat of arms of Amber Martinez, California, designed by her, improved by Kevin D Couling and Bob Juchter van Bergen Quast and emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Or, Azure, Four, Two, One, Paly, Ermine, Overall, Fleur de lis, In fess, Enté en point and Estoile.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Corset.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Martinez, Amber.

Heraldic device interpreted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, and with a freehand finishing.

G0066: the heraldic badge and standard of Andrea Pompili, of Italy, as granted by the Chief Herald of Arms of Malta and emblazoned by me for this grant. Badge: A dexter lion's paw Azure, armed, grasping in its claws by its lowest point a mullet of six points Or, between two branches of laurel Vert. Standard's structure: coat of arms; badge; 1^st line of the motto «Per audacia»; crest; 2^nd line of the motto «Ad astra»; four mullets of six points party per fess Or and Azure, 2 and 2.

Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Gules, Or, Vert, Two, One, Four, Chevronel, Between, In chief, Mullet, In base, Scots pine, Tree, Eradicated, Proper, Crest, Upon (wreath), Wreath, Demi, Lion, Langued, Winged, Displayed, Armed, Crowned, Ancient coronet, Crown, Grasping, Claw, Motto, Dexter, Paw, Branch and Laurel.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Badge, Standard and Flag.

Bearer: Pompili, Andrea.

Or, four pallets Gules.

Escudo de oro, cuatro palos de gules.

Recreated coat of arms of Aragón in the following manner: the escutcheon shape is pointed and rounded; the field is rendered in flat Or; the pallets are illuminated; and the whole has a parchment-like finish.

This rendition of the coat of arms is based on [Portolés, J.; Molino, M. del; 1590].

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Four, Pale and Gules.

Style keywords: Ogee, Illuminated and Parchment.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Aragon.

Bearer: Aragon.

[Vert, two two-man cross-cut saws in saltire, the one bendwise Argent, handled Or, the one bend sinisterwise Or, handled Argent, in chief an adze Or, handled Argent]; [Azure, in chief a moon with human face Argent, in base a crescent chequey Sable and Argent; overall a she-wolf ululant, sejant on the crescent proper, armed and the udders Gules]; [Argent, a chevron Sable and an ouroboros Azure, armed and langued Sable, interlaced]; [Azure, a sun in splendour, irradiated of sixteen ears of wheat Or]; [Azure semé of mullets of seven points voided, interlaced, and conjoined Argent; a bordure Argent]; [Or, four bell towers issuant from base Gules, windows Or]; [Or, a sun in splendour party per pale Azure and Argent, its rays Azure; a bordure Azure]; [Argent masoned Sable, a chevron Azure, in chief a wolf and a she-wolf combatant Sable]; [Argent, a multi-rose, which is a rose charged with ten roses conjoined in orle Rose, barbed Vert, seeded Or; a bordure Azure]; and [Or, an eagle displayed Azure].

Poster with the coats of arms of the members of the Lanzagorta Otxoa family, from Jalisco, Mexico, all designed by their bearers and by Juan Lanzagorta Vallín and emblazoned and signed by me, exhibited at the 5^th International Congress of Genealogy and Heraldry (5^th ICGHV), Vilnius. The 5^th ICGHV was held at the historic National Museum - Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and was organized by the Genealogijos, Heraldikos ir Veksilologijos Institutas. This family armorial composition presents ten personal coats of arms, each one created for a specific member of the family, while preserving a shared visual and heraldic language. The arms are those of Iker Lanzagorta Ochoa, Teresa Otxoa Magaña, Ixai Lanzagorta Ochoa, María de los Ángeles Carrillo Padilla, Itziar Lanzagorta Ochoa, Alejandra Espeja Amieva, the youngest granddaughter of Jon Lanzagorta Vallín, Juan Lanzagorta Vallín himself, the eldest granddaughter of Jon Lanzagorta Vallín, and Andrés Cruz Carballo.

Blazon keywords: Vert, Argent, Or, One, Two, Azure, Sable, Gules, Sixteen, Four, Rose, Ten, Two-man cross-cut saw, In saltire, Bendwise, Handled, Bend sinisterwise, In chief, Adze, Chief, Moon, With human face, Base, Crescent, Chequey, Overall, She-wolf, Ululant, Sejant, Proper, Armed, Udder, Chevron, Ouroboros, Langued, Interlaced, Sun in splendour, Irradiated, Ear of wheat, Wheat, Semé, Mullet, Voided, Conjoined, Bell tower, Issuant from base, Port and windows, Party per pale, Ray of the sun, Bordure, Masoned, Wolf, Combatant, Charged, In orle, Barbed, Seeded, Eagle and Displayed.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture, Semi-circular, Oval, Ogee, Rhombus and Rounded trapezoid.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Photographic.

Bearer: Lanzagorta Vallín, Juan.

Blazon keywords: One, Cyclamor, Or, Motto, Sable, Four, Wing, Gules, Argent, Rose, Leaved, Vert and Seeded.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted and Badge.

Bearer: Breu, Stephan Urs.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]. Crest: A closed royal crown. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece. Behind the shield, a crimson oval fimbriated Or.

Heraldic device painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an oval outer contour and with a metal and iridescent finishing.

Badge of the Household of His Majesty the King Felipe VI of Spain emblazoned by me. According to the official description, it consists of a brass oval whose major axis, in vertical position, measures 35 millimetres in length and whose minor axis measures 30 millimetres. The obverse is enamelled in crimson and surrounded by a gilded border one millimetre wide along its entire perimeter. In this case, crimson is not treated as a heraldic tincture, but merely as a chromatic description.

Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Closed royal crown, Crown, Surrounded, Collar, Behind the shield and Fimbriated.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular, Oval and Metal and iridescent.

Classification: Personal, Kingdom of Spain, Interpreted, Boa and Badge.

Bearer: Felipe VI of Spain.

Barry of four per pale counterchanged Or and Gules.

Blazon keywords: Barry per pale counterchanged, Four, Or and Gules.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Semi-circular, Tricking, Hatching and Plain tincture.

Classification: Religious, Military, Knights Templar, Interpreted, Coat of arms and Schema.

Bearer: Blanchefort, Bertrand de.

Arms of Carlos Vidriales and his daughter and son

Categories: Coat of arms, Interpreted, Personal, Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable, Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Lineage, Conjoined in fess, Decoration, Suspended, Base (lower 1/3), Surmounted, Overall (deprecated), Label, Cadency, Cantoned and Martlet.

Root: Vidriales García y Bustamante, Carlos.

Grand Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.

Argent, a cross of Alcantara. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Behind the shield the Laureate Grand Cross of Saint Ferdinand. Motto: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Escudo de plata, una cruz de Alcántara. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Acolada detrás del escudo la gran cruz laureada de San Fernando. Lema: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Coat of arms interpreted in the following manner: the shape of the shield is of a semicircular arch; the field is illuminated in metal Argent; the cross of Alcantara, the 4 swords and the 2 laurel branches are outlined in Sable and illuminated in Vert and Gules; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated with the metal Or, Argent for the pearls, Azure and Or for the orb, Gules and Vert for the gems, Gules for the inner cloth, and Sable for the visible hollow at its base; and the whole has a iridescent finish.

Rif War, July 23, 1921, banks of the Igan River, North Africa

The Alcantara Regiment executed nine successive cavalry charges to protect the infantry's retreat, nine charges until they broke the enemy lines, outnumbering them. The last charge was on foot because all their horses were dead or exhausted. These heroic riders of Alcantara had fulfilled their duty of protecting the wounded infantry in their retreat to El Batel, but the price was appalling: of 691 riders, only 67 survived, and three months were necessary to recover hundreds of corpses.

For this reason, in 2012, the Alcántara Regiment was collectively awarded the Grand Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.

Two lances behind the shield

Since 1987, the coat of arms of the cavalry regiments of the Spanish Army must carry two crossed lances accolade behind the shield. And indeed, this coat of arms of the Alcántara Cavalry Regiment has two lances behind the shield, but in my artistic heraldic interpretation, I did not paint them to avoid detracting from the prominence of the Laureate Cross.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown, Behind the shield, Four, Sword, Crosswise, Gules, Two, Branch, Laurel, Vert and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Iridescent.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Alcantara, Cavalry Regiment.

Argent, a cross Gules [for Genoa]; a bordure compony of fifteen sections: 1, 6, and 11 Argent, a pomegranate seeded, slipped and leaved proper [for Granada]; 2, 7, and 12 Or, an eagle displayed Sable [for Navarre]; 3, 8, and 13 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Gules, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 4, 9, and 14 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 5, 10, and 15 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon].

Coat of arms of the city of Almeria, Andalusia, emblazoned by me. These arms combines 1+5=6 coats of arms: Genoa, Granada, Castile (with port and windows Gules instead of Azure), Leon (with the lion Gules instead of Purpure), Navarre (for its old arms, its «Arrano Beltza» ~ «Black Eagle»), and Aragon, as shown in this composition.

Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Four, Fifteen, Cross, Bordure, Compony, Pomegranate, Slipped, Leaved, Proper, Eagle, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned and Pallet.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Leather.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Schema, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Almeria, city of.

Or, a roe deer springing Gules, in base a triple mount Vert. Crest: Upon a helm affronty, with a wreath Or and Vert, two roe deers' attires barry of four Gules and Or. Mantling: Vert doubled Or..

Credits: Stephan Urs Breu is the designer of the coat of arms and Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas is the author of the heraldic art.

Blazon keywords: Or, One, Roe deer, Springing, Gules, In base, Trimount, Vert, Crest and mantling, Helm, Mantling, Wreath, Crest, Two, Roe deer' attire, Barry and Four.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Rehberger, Alena.

Azure, a chevron engrailed Or between three lozenges Argent, each charged with a fleur de lis Gules; a bordure compony of eight sections, four Vert each charged with a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, and four Argent each charged with a bull's head caboshed Sable. Crest: Upon a helm lined Gules, with a wreath Or and Azure, five ostrich feathers, alternately three Azure and two Or. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Honor et Veritas Semper Prorsus» Sable, with initial letters Gules, over a scroll Argent.

Arms devised by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a watercolor finishing.

Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, Gules, Vert, Sable, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Eight, Chevron, Engrailed, Lozenge, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Compony, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Bull, Head, Caboshed, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Lined, Wreath, Ostrich feathers, Alternately, Mantling and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Watercolor.

Classification: Personal, Created, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Gutiérrez Benítez, Jose Manuel.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]; and the whole debruised by a label of three points Azure. Crest: A Crown of Prince. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Arms depicted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a iridescent finish.

This is my interpretation of the coat of arms of Her Royal Highness Doña Leonor Princess of Asturias (as heiress to the Crown of Castile), Princess of Girona (as heiress to the Crown of Aragon), and Princess of Viana (as heiress to the Kingdom of Navarre), with the Collar of the Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece. Her coat of arms is that of her father, the King, charged with a label Azure and surmounted by the crown of a princess with four pearl diadems, three visible.

Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Cadency, Label of three points, Crown of Prince, Crown, Surrounded and Collar.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Iridescent.

Classification: Personal, Kingdom of Spain, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Leonor Princess of Asturias.

Sable, upon three bars wavy a four arch bridge Or, masoned Sable, throughout.

Coat of arms designed by me, in flat tinctures, contoured in Sable, with a pointed external shape and with a texturized finish.

The coat of arms of Daniel García Martínez designed by him and me, and emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Sable, Or, Three, Four, Upon, Wavy, Bar, Arch, Bridge, Masoned and Throughout.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Pointed.

Classification: Personal, Created, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: García Martínez, Daniel.

Design ideas

The heraldic art often involves resolving design challenges while maintaining both aesthetic balance and adherence to tradition. The coat of arms illustrated here draws inspiration from the Dethick-Dethicke family arms of Derbyshire, though it features distinct differences. This design explores the placement of water-bougets, a medieval water vessel, in a 2+2 arrangement, with a fess vair.

One key consideration when arranging charges in heraldry is proportionality. In this case, the fess occupies 1/3 of the coat of arms's width and is positioned 1/3 of the height from the chief, rather than at the exact center, allowing the charges to balance harmoniously. The shape of the shield itself also plays a role: rounded shields can accommodate a 2+2 arrangement more comfortably than shields with a pointed base, which are better suited to 2+1 arrangements, this is de case of Dethick's arms.

Another challenge in heraldic design is asymmetry. To address the natural curves of the shield, the water-bougets may vary slightly in size or placement. This intentional asymmetry can help create a visually appealing composition that respects both tradition and the unique constraints of each design, because, heraldry is not only about rules but also about creativity.

Gules, a fess vair between four water-bougets Or, two in chief and two in base.

Escudo de gules, una faja de veros acompañada de cuatro pares de odres de oro, dos en jefe y dos en punta.

Water-bouget

In German, they are called «Wasserschlauch» in English «water-bougets» or «oges», and in French «bouses» or «chantepleures».

There is no specific heraldic term for them in Castilian. Based on «chantepleures», one could use «cantimploras», which are metallic or at least rigid. On the other hand, «oges» could translate as «odres», as they are typically made of leather as in this case. Additionally, since «water-bouget» are designed as a pair to be carried by a donkey or other animal, I have decided to use «par de odres» to convey the idea of one on each side of the animal.

In English, when there is a single charge, that is, a pair of water vessels, it is written in singular as «water-bouget», as can be seen in [Fox-Davies, A. C.; 1909; figure 551]. [Friar, S.; 1987; page 68] defines «bouget» as «...a stylized representation of a yoke supporting two leather waterbags».

Blazon keywords: Gules, One, Fess, Vair, Between, Four, Water-bouget, Or, Two, In chief and In base.

Style keywords: Ratio, Outlined, Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Interpreted, Schema and Coat of arms.

Azure, two lions passant, guardant, winged, each holding in its paws an open book Argent, with the inscription «Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus» Sable distributed on their four pages.

Escudo de azur, dos leopardos alados, teniendo cada uno en sus garras un libro abierto todo de plata, con la inscripción «Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus» de sable distribuida en sus cuatro páginas.

Arms designed by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of Deacon Mark Eschenlauer designed by him, Fr. Yannick Beuvelet and me, and emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Sable, Two, One, Four, Leopard, Winged, Grasping, Paw, Closed book, Book, Inscribed, Page and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Created, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Eschenlauer, Marc.

The coat of arms of the family Milian, created by me following their suggestions, with the blazon written in English and Castilian in a structured way to observe the parallelism between both forms.

Tierced per bend: 1 vairy Or and Azure; 2 Azure, two ships in full sail, in bend Argent; 3 Or, four bars wavy Azure.

Escudo terciado en banda: 1o verado de oro y azur; 2o de azur, dos barcos en banda de plata; 3o de oro, cuatro burelas ondadas de azur.

Blazon keywords: Or, Azure, Argent, Two, Four, Tierced per bend, Vairy, Ship, Full sail, In bend, Bar and Wavy.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Leather.

Classification: Personal, Created, Structured and parallel blazons, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Milian, family.

Publication of my interpretation of the arms of His Majesty King Felipe VI with the Order of the Garter on the blog Twelve Lineages of Soria with the following text: Magnificent interpretation of the coat of arms of H.M. the King of Spain, with the Order of the Garter, made by the prestigious heraldist and member of the International Heraldry Society, Mr. Antonio Salmerón Cabañas.

Categories: Link, Or, Four, Pale, Gules, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Vert, Closed royal crown, Crown, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Enté, In base, Pomegranate, Proper, Seeded (pomegranate), Slipped and Leaved.

Root: Twelve Lineages of Soria.

Or, an oak tree proper, fructed Or, with a boar supporting it Sable; the whole debruised by a label of four points Azure with the second point Argent.

Escudo de oro, un roble al natural, frutado de oro, con un jabalí empinado de sable; brisado de un lambel de cuatro pendientes de azur, el segundo pendiente de plata.

Coat of arms interpreted by me, in flat tinctures, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a texturized finish.

Coat of arms of Francisca Aras Quirce designed by Juan Lanzagorta Vallin and emblazoned by me.

Credits: Juan Lanzagorta Vallin is the designer of the coat of arms.

Blazon keywords: Or, One, Oak, Tree, Proper, Fructed, Boar, Supporting, Sable, Cadency, Label, Four, Azure and Argent.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Semi-circular.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Francisca Aras Quirce.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a chevron Argent, between three fleurs de lis Or; 2 Or, five mullets in saltire Gules; 3 Argent, four escutcheons in cross Azure, each charged with nine plates, those in flank with points to center, overall a carbuncle and orle of knotted cords Purpure debruised by the center escutcheon; 4 Sable, on a mount issuant from the base Vert, a tower Argent, port, windows and masoned sable, between two wolves Or supporting it; enté en point Or, three bars wavy Gules.

Escudo cuartelado: 1^o de Gules, un cabrio de plata acompañado de tres flores de lis de oro; 2^o de oro, cinco estrellas de seis puntas en sotuer de gules; 3^o de plata, cuatro escudetes en cruz de azur, cada uno cargado de nueve bezantes de plata, 3, 3, 3, los dos escudetes de los flancos puestos en faja apuntando al del centro, brochante sobre el todo un carbunclo de cuerdas, orlado y anudado de púrpura, y brochante sobre el todo del todo, un quinto escudete como los anteriores; 4^o de sable, un monte moviente de la punta de sinople, sumado de una torre de plata, aclarada y mazonada de sable, con dos lobos de oro empinados a ella; Entado en punta de oro, tres fajas ondadas de gules.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a watercolor finishing.

Coat of arms of Hugo Frazão Coutinho designed by him and emblazoned by me.

Design rationale

Lineages: 1, Frazão; 2, Coutinho; 3, Eças; 4, Cámara; Enté en point Or, three bars wavy Gules of Drummond.

Blazon keywords: Or, Gules, Argent, Azure, Purpure, Sable, Vert, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Nine, Quarterly, Chevron, Between, Fleur de lis, Mullet, In saltire, Escutcheon, In cross, Charged, Plate, In each flank, Center, Overall, Carbuncle, Orle, Knotted, Cord, Debruised, Mount, Issuant, Base, Tower, Port and windows, Masoned, Wolf, Supporting, Enté en point, Bar and Wavy.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Watercolor.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Frazão Coutinho Dias, Hugo.

Gules, a cross Argent charged with four ermine spots in cross Sable, in the dexter of the chief a lion’s head erased Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree issuant from a crown of Baron above the shield, with a chapeau Gules turned up ermine, a demi-lion, double queued Or, grasping in its dexter paw a pennon Gules, bearing a canton Azure, charged with a saltire Argent. Mantling: Gules doubled Argent. War cry above the crest: «ΑΛΑΛΑ ΑΛΑΛΑ». Motto: «Mieux vaut s’user que rouiller». Supporters: Two knights in three-quarter armour affronty proper, each holding with his outer hand a spear Argent bearing a banner, the dexter Sable, a panther rampant guardant Argent, incensed Or, collared, pendent therefrom a bell Azure, the sinister a banner barry of six Or and Azure, a canton Ermine, terraced Vert semé of Maltese Rock Centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius) slipped proper.

Arms interpreted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finish.

G0116, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant for the arms of Andrew Ronald McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, United Kingdom. These arms have been emblazoned by me for such grant. The English term «terraced», sometimes used in blazon, is equivalent to the term «compartment». In Castilian blazon we use the term «terrazado», in this case as an element outside the shield, while «terrazado» also exists inside the shield in base.

Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Sable, Or, Azure, Vert, One, Four, Six, Cross, Charged, Ermine, In cross, Dexter, Chief, Lion, Head, Erased, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Baron, Crown, Above the shield, Chapeau, Demi, Double queued, Grasping, Canton, Saltire, War cry, Above the crest, Motto, Supporter (human form), Supporter, Knight, Affronty, Proper, Spear, Panther, Rampant, Guardant, Enflamed, Collar, Suspended, Bell, Barry, Compartment, Semé and Slipped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa, Coat of arms, Pennon, Flag and Banner of arms.

Bearer: McMillan Bell of Auchinreoch, Andrew Ronald.

Azure, a cross ermine fimbriated Or, between four fleurs de lis Argent, each enfiled in a crown Or. Crest: Upon a helm befitting his degree, issuant from a crown of Baron, with a wreath Or and Azure, a falcon displayed, belled Azure, crowned Or, holding in its dexter talon an hourglass Or and in its sinister talon a fleur de lis Argent. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Per Crucem Triumphans» Sable, over a scroll Argent, doubled Gules. Supporters: Two lions rampant Or, langued Gules.

Coat of arms depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finish.

G0128, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant for the arms of Jean-Yves, de Sainte Croix de la Sabliere, UK. These arms have been emblazoned by me for such grant.

Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, Gules, One, Four, Cross, Ermine, Fimbriated, Between, Fleur de lis, Enfiled, Crown, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Issuant, Crown of Baron, Above the shield, Wreath, Falcon, Belled, Crowned, Dexter, Talon, Hourglass, Sinister, Mantling, Doubled, Motto, Scroll, Supporter (animal), Supporter, Lion, Rampant and Langued.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Sainte Croix de la Sabliere, Jean-Yves de.

Chequey of fifteen Or and Gules. Crest: A galero with two cords, one on each side, each with fifteen tassels, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Gules. Behind the shield a crossed staff Or.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a parchment finishing.

Blazon keywords: Or, Gules, Fifteen, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Chequey, Crest, Galero, Cord, Tassel, Behind the shield and Crossed staff.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Parchment.

Classification: Religious, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Ximénez de Cisneros, Francisco.

Argent, a cross patty Gules charged with a double rose Argent and Gules, barbed Vert, seeded Or, between four double roses Gules and Argent, barbed Vert, and seeded Or.

Escudo de plata, una cruz patada de gules cargada de una rosa doble de plata y gules, barbada de sinople y botonada de oro, acompañada de cuatro rosas dobles de gules y plata, barbadas de sinople y botonadas de oro.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with a shape ended with semi-circular arch, illuminated, and with a leather finishing.

Blazon keywords: Argent, One, Cross patty, Cross couped, Gules, Charged, Double rose, Barbed, Seeded, Between and Four.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Leather.

Classification: Personal, Created and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Gómez Morillo, Antonio José.

Azure, four concentric annulets Argent.

Escudo de azur, cuatro anilletes concéntricos de plata.

Coat of arms depicted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a rounded trapezoidal external shape and with a freehand finishing.

The coat of arms of Ralph de Gorges emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Azure, Argent, Four, Moon, With human face, Environed, Concentric and Annulet.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Rounded trapezoid and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Gorges, Ralph de.

Ermine, three pomegranates inverted Or, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert, ensigned with an open crown, alternating four rosettes of acanthus leaves, visible three, and four pomegranates Or, visible two, lined Gules.

Escudo de armiños, tres granadas ranversadas de oro, rajada de gules, talladas y hojadas de sinople, sumadas de una corona abierta, alternando cuatro rosetas de hojas de acanto, visibles tres, y cuatro granadas, visibles dos, todas de oro, forrada de gules.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with an oval shape, illuminated, and with a leather finishing that seems watercolor.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Ermine, Three, Pomegranate, Reversed, Or, Seeded (pomegranate), Gules, Slipped, Leaved, Vert, On, One, Crown, Alternately, Four, Rosette of acanthus leaves, Visible, Two and Lined.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Oval, Illuminated and Leather.

Classification: Socioeconomic, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Granada, Soberana y Muy Noble Orden de la.

Argent, a fess dancetty of four points Gules.

Escudo de plata, una faja encajada de cuatro piezas de gules.

Coat of arms depicted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a pointed outer contour and with a freehand finish.

G0138, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta's grant of the coat of arms of the municipality of Gudja, Malta. This coat of arms has been emblazoned by me and has been published in the Malta Government Gazette, number 21486, page 10730, with the blazon «Argent a fess dancetty of four points counterdancetty of three points all Gules».

Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Four, Fess and Dancetty.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Gudja, municipality of.

King of Aragon, Valencia and Majorca, Count of Barcelona, Count of Urgell, Lord of Montpellier and known as the Conqueror

Or, four pallets Gules.

Escudo de oro, cuatro palos de gules.

Coat of arms interpreted by me as follows: the escutcheon shape is semicircular; the field is rendered in flat Or with a watercolored effect; and the pallets are illuminated and finished with a crystalline texture.

A semicircular-shaped shield of Aragon can be seen, for instance, in [Argote de Molina, G.; 1588; chapter XLII].

This shield, but with a pointed base, appears in the second part of the armorial [Wijnbergen; 1265; shield no. 1,293], under the title «Le roy Darragon». This second part was compiled between 1270 and 1285 and, since James I was king of Aragon from 1213 to 1276, it could refer to him; although it might also refer to his son Peter III, the Great, who succeeded James I in 1276.

This coat of arms is also the arms of Aix-en-Provence, granted to that French city, according to tradition, by Alfonso II of Aragon [Aix-en-Provence; 1351], grandfather of James I, the Conqueror.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Four, Pale and Gules.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Watercolor and Crystalline.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Aragon.

Bearer: James I of Aragon.

Azure, a pall couped Argent, its three arms charged with «es» Azure, within a triangle reversed Argent, its three arms charged with «no es» Azure, all debruised by four plates, three on the vertex of the triangle, in dexter chief, charged with «el Padre», in sinister chief, charged with «el Hijo», in base, charged with «el Espítiru», and one on the fess point, charged with «Dios» Azure; in chief a label of three points Argent.

Escudo de azur, una perla recortada de plata, sus tres brazos cargados con «es» de azur, dentro de un triángulo ranversado de plata, sus tres brazos cargados con «no es» de azur, todo resaltado de cuatro bezantes de plata, tres sobre los vértices del triángulo, en la diestra del jefe, cargado de «el Padre», en la siniestra del jefe, cargado con «el Hijo», en la punta, cargado con «el Espítiru» y uno sobre el corazón, cargado con «Dios» todo de azur; en jefe un lambel de tres pendientes de plata.

Imaginary coat of arms that I have interpreted with: a semicircular (round) base; its field illuminated in Azure; the rest illuminated in Argent and outlined in Sable; its letters in plain Azure ink; and the set with a rough finish.

Drawing a parallel between the coat of arms of Navarre that [[Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1974]] transcribes for its original coat of arms as «Gules, a closed and pommetty carbuncle Or with an emerald...» I have characterized the pearl on the coat of arms as closed.

This is the imaginary coat of arms of the Holy Trinity with a label added for difference to the Son, to Jesus Christ.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Azure, One, Pall, Couped, Argent, Three, Charged, Letter, Within, Triangle, Reversed, Four, Plate, In the dexter chief, In the sinister chief, In base, In the fess point, Cadency and Label of three points.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Rough.

Classification: Religious, Interpreted, Imaginary and Coat of arms.

Imaginary bearer: Jesus Christ.

Argent, four leaves of silver-leaved whitebeam (Sorbus Aria Lutescens) in saltire, stems interlaced Vert, on a chief Gules, three crosses of Saint Brigid Argent.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me with a rounded shape, illuminated, and with a leather finishing.

Blazon keywords: Argent, Four, Leaf, In saltire, Stem, Interlaced, Vert, Chief, Gules, Three, Cross of Saint Brigid and Cross couped.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Rounded, Illuminated and Leather.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Kane, Kathleen.

Metal Or over metal Argent.

Argent, a cross potent cantoned of four crosslets potent Or.

Escudo de plata, una cruz potenzada cantonada de cuatro cruces potenzadas todas de oro.

Illuminated with lights and shadows and with a freehand finish.

Perhaps the most classic example of non-compliance with the heraldic rule of tinctures having metal Or over metal Argent. In [Galdiano L.; Century XVII; folio 6], you can see a version of the arms of Jerusalem with the field in Gules, which would indeed follow the rule of tinctures as it is metal on color.

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, One, Cross potent, Cross couped, Cantoned, Four and Or.

Style keywords: Freehand, Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Metal on metal.

Classification: Interpreted and Civic.

Bearer: Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or; 3 Or, four pallets Gules; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules. Crest: A closed royal crown. Supporters: two columns Argent, capital and base Or, between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Motto environing the columns and behind the shield: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules.

Arms of the Kingdom of Spain. This image combines three photographs of this coat of arms on the façade of the Ministry of Defence building on the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, just a few metres from my office, together with my own artistic interpretation of the same arms. In the version on the façade of the Ministry of Defence, the crowns above the columns do not touch the columns, which I believe is the correct way to depict them, although the central crown does appear to rest upon the shield of Spain. There are more interpretations that place the crowns resting on the columns than those that do not, and I photographed this particular version from the Ministry of Defence because it is especially relevant due to its size and institutional significance. On the arrangement of the crowns: a) Royal Decree 1511/1977, of 21 January, enacted during the so-called Transition and approving the Regulations on Flags and Standards, Guidons, Insignia and Distinctive Signs, states: «Rule No. 2. Coat of Arms of Spain… Accompanied by two columns Argent, with base and capital Or, set upon waves Azure or blue and Argent», «superado» «by an imperial crown on the dexter one and by a royal crown on the sinister one…». b) The subsequent Law 33/1981, of 5 October, regulating the current coat of arms of Spain, likewise states: «…Accompanied by two columns Argent, with base and capital Or, set upon waves Azure or blue and Argent», «superado» «by an imperial crown on the dexter one and by a royal crown on the sinister one». c) The term «superado» in the heraldic dictionaries in which it appears refers, as a synonym, to «surmontado». d) The definitions of «surmontado» include: «a charge which, at its upper part, has another above it but without touching it», «also said of superado», and «a figure that bears another above it, but without touching it». In light of a), b), c) and d), the two crowns should therefore be painted not touching the columns. However, in the illustrative drawing contained in Royal Decree 1511/1977 the crowns do touch the columns, contradicting its own wording, although in heraldry, when in doubt, the written blazon always prevails; and in most official representations the crowns do indeed touch the columns. Nevertheless, this personal interpretation of both the coat of arms of Spain and of the proper way to write its blazon, where the lateral crowns do not touch the columns, and then I decide that, following the same criterion, the central crown should not touch the shield either, so the result differs from the official version.

Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Two, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Closed royal crown, Crown, Supporter (thing), Supporter, Column, Shafted, Between, In base, Wave, In chief, Imperial crown, Dexter, Sinister, Motto, Environed, Behind the shield and Scroll.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Semi-circular.

Classification: Civic, Kingdom of Spain, Interpreted, Boa, Photographic and Collage.

Bearer: Spain, Kingdom of.

Quarterly: 1 per pale: 1 Argent, a madrone tree (Arbutus unedo) Vert, fructed Gules; 2 Azure, a tower Argent; 2 Vert, on a wall Or, masoned Sable, by five archers Argent in shooting stance; 3 barry wavy Azure and Argent, three caravels in pale Or, sails and pennons Argent charged with crosses Gules, between two flanches Vert; 4 Azure, a tower Argent, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, between two lozenges Or, each charged with four pallets Gules, in chief four towers in fess Or, port and windows Gules, masoned Sable. Supporters: Two knights in full plate armor Argent, lined Gules. Suspended from the shield the cross of Knight of the National Monarchist Brotherhood of Spain.

Arms devised by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a leather finish.

Coat of arms of Ilmo. Sr. D. Manuel Novo Dabrio, designed by him and me and emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Argent, Vert, Azure, Or, Gules, One, Five, Three, Four, Two, Quarterly, Party per pale, Madrone tree, Tree, Fructed, Tower, Masoned, On, Wall, Archer, In shooting stance, Barry, Wavy, Caravel, Ship, In pale, Sail, Charged, Cross, Between, Flanched, Port and windows, Lozenge, Pallet, Supporter (human form), Supporter, Knight, Full plate armor, Lined, Suspended from the shield and Decoration.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Leather.

Classification: Personal, Created, Boa, Coat of arms, Pennon and Flag.

Bearer: Novo Dabrio, Manuel.

Azure, a chevron Or, between in chief a cross potent cantoned of crosslets, and a lion rampant, and in base a Celtic Trinity knot Argent. Motto: «Primi entis» Sable, with initial letters Gules, over a scroll Argent.

Escudo de azur, un cabrio de oro, acompañado en jefe de una cruz potenzada cantonada de cuatro cruces, y un león rampante, en punta de un nudo celta de la Trinidad, todo de plata. Lema: «Primi entis» de sable, con iniciales de gules, sobre una filacteria de plata.

Design rationale

The Cross of the Episcopal Church, a lion because of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, a Holy Spirit symbol, the tinctures of Anaya Argent, Or, and Azure, and her motto for being the first woman ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Anglican Church in Latin America, and one of the first in the United States of America.

Credits: Ernesto Juan Anaya is the designer of the coat of arms and Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas is the author of the heraldic art.

Blazon keywords: Azure, One, Chevron, Or, Between, In chief, Cross of Jerusalem, Cross couped, Cross potent, Cantoned, Four, Crosslet, Lion, Rampant, In base, Celtic Trinity knot, Knot, Celtic, Trinity, Scroll, Charged and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Pointed and Freehand.

Classification: Religious, Interpreted, Coat of arms, Latin language and Design rationale.

Bearer: Lucca de Anaya, Nilda Ernestina.

Pedro IV of Aragon, also known as Pedro III of Aragon as he himself called, «Ordinance made by the very high and excellent Prince and Lord Lord Don Pedro the third King of Aragon, on the manner in which the Kings of Aragon will be consecrated and they themselves will be crowned», in the Royal Aragonese Chancery, 1353.

Bibliographical reference of century XIV.

Author: Pedro IV de Aragón.

The following article cites this bibliographic reference:

• Peter IV of Aragon

External link:

• Prince and Lord Lord Don Pedro the third King of Aragon.

And II of Valencia and of Ampurias, I of Mallorca and Sardinia, and III of Barcelona.

Or, four pallets Gules.

Escudo de oro, cuatro palos de gules.

Coat of arms of this king of Aragon interpreted by me as follows: the escutcheon shape is curved triangular; the field and the 4 pallets are rendered in flat tinctures Or and Gules; and the whole shield has a watercolored finish.

This curved triangular shape of the escutcheon is inspired by the shield shown in the lower central part of a document issued by the king himself [Pedro IV de Aragón; 1353].

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Four, Pale and Gules.

Style keywords: Triangular curved, Illuminated and Watercolor.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Aragon.

Bearer: Peter IV of Aragon.

My heraldic Pixiv wall is Dr.A.Salmeron @antoniosheraldry and pixiv.me/antoniosheraldry.

Pixiv is a Japanese online community for artists. I post in Pixiv 2 or 3 coats of arms per week. They use a strict form to post with many mandatory input fields. This week, they have added a new mandatory field «AI-generated work: Yes / No», AI ~ Artificial Intelligence. In the image, I have highlighted this new field in red.

My animation of the coat of arms of Juan Lanzagorta reached position 33 in Pixiv’s daily Ugoira animation ranking. I am very happy about this, as it is not easy to achieve.

Categories: Technology, Social networks, Quarterly, Gules, One, Chevron, Argent, Between, Three, Fleur de lis, Or, Five, Mullet, In saltire, Four, Escutcheon, In cross, Azure, Charged, Nine, Bezant and plate, Two, Flank, Fesswise, Center, Overall, Carbuncle, Cord, In orle, Knotted, Purpure, Overall (all), Sable, Mount, Issuant from base, Vert, On, Tower, Port and windows, Masoned, Wolf, Supporting, Enté en point, Fess, Wavy, Crown of the Sovereign and Most Noble Order of the Pomegranate, Crown and Motto.

Or, four pallets Gules.

Escudo de oro, cuatro palos de gules.

Coat of arms of the Count of Barcelona interpreted by me with the following features: the escutcheon shape is semicircular; the field is rendered in flat Or; the pallets are illuminated; and the whole has been given a heavily beaten metal finish.

[Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1988; page 537] tells us that, unlike other more territorial emblems, «from his earliest seal the pallets appear on the shield of the equestrian figures on both sides, and in line with this configuration the emblem is inherited, without distinction, by his three sons and all his grandsons... it seems one must conclude that the emblem had a familial, not territorial, character from the very beginning».

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Four, Pale and Gules.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated and Hard metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and County of Barcelona.

Bearer: Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona.

It has been depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a rough finish.

Coat of arms surrounded by the Grand collar of the Grand collar of the Ordo Equestris Reginae Caeli emblazoned by me. The OERC promotes solidarity, compassion, and the spirit of service toward those most in need oerc.eu/projekte.

Blazon keywords: Order, Decoration, Azure, Or, Argent, One, Four, Eight-pointed cross, Cross couped, Cantoned, Fleur de lis, In saltire, Conjoined, Monogram, Crown, Lined, Grand collar and Surrounded.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Rough.

Classification: Interpreted and Boa.

Bearer: Ordo Equestris Reginae Caeli.

Party per fess: 1 party per pale: 1 quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]. 2 quarterly: 1 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 2 quarterly per saltire: 1 and 4 Or, four pallets Gules; 2 and 3 Argent, an eagle displayed Sable [for Aragon-Sicily]. 3 Argent, a cross potent cantoned of four crosslets Or [for Jerusalem]. 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]. Enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]. 2 quarterly: 1 Gules, a fess Argent [for Austria]; 2 Azure semé of fleurs de lis Or within a bordure compony Argent and Gules [for Burgundy modern]; 3 bendy Or and Azure within a bordure Gules [for Burgundy ancient]; 4 Sable, a lion rampant Or, armed and langued Gules [for Brabant]; overall an inescutcheon party per pale: 1 Or, a lion rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules [for Flanders]; 2 Argent, an eagle displayed Gules, crowned, armed, beaked, langued and membered Or, charged on the wings with two trefoiled stems Or [for Tyrol]. Crest: An imperial crown with two fanons Argent, fringed Or. Behind the shield a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, nimbed, beaked and armed Or, langued and membered Gules, enfiled by an open royal crown above the shield. Supporters: two columns Argent between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Moto environing the columns: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Arms depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Arms of Charles, Holy Roman Emperor, emblazoned by me.

Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, Or, Vert, One, Two, Four, Party per fess, Party per pale, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Pale, Quarterly per saltire, Eagle, Displayed, Cross potent, Cross couped, Cantoned, Crosslet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Seeded, Slipped, Leaved, Fess, Semé, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Compony, Bendy, Overall, Inescutcheon, Beaked, Membered, Wing, Trefoiled, Stem, Crest, Imperial crown, Crown, Fanon, Fringed, Behind the shield, Double-headed, Nimbed, Enfiled, Open royal crown, Above the shield, Supporter (thing), Supporter, Column, Shafted, Between, In base, Wave, In chief, Dexter, Closed royal crown, Sinister, Motto, Environed, Scroll, Surrounded and Collar.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Freehand.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

This portrait, attributed by the seller to Frans Pourbus the Younger, was described on the market as that of a Venetian lady holding a «Venetian Lace Fan» and was said to come from a private collection in Florence, Italy. More precisely, its sales title was «Portrait of a Lady with a Venetian Lace Fan c.1595, Remarkable condition 1597».

From a heraldic point of view, the work presents, as a significant element, a coat of arms of oval shape painted on the column accompanying the figure. Oval forms are often associated with the shields of married women; if this late-sixteenth-century shield originated, for example, in England, one could be more confident that there is a relationship between the oval shape of the shield and the lady depicted. Originating in Italy, and more specifically in Venice, this oval shape may have been chosen either because the sitter was a woman or simply as a matter of fashion, since in that period and region oval shields can also be found in ecclesiastical contexts and used by men, the oval then being regarded as a form more architectural and artistic than combative.

I became aware of this painting because I was asked by a university whether I could identify the coat of arms on the column. The identification of coats of arms in historical painting is a slow, uncertain task and, in most cases, an unproductive one. It may require hours, days, weeks or even years, and often does not lead to definitive results. For this reason, I generally try to avoid this type of research.

In this particular case, I was unable to identify it. However, coats of arms, once seen, remain in visual memory; that is precisely what they are designed to do. Twenty months later, while casually reviewing a series of heraldic records published by the Italian heraldist, «Vittorio|Gifra», one of them caught my attention at an unconscious level. I continued moving through the series, but an unmistakable sense arose that something relevant had been overlooked, which led me to go back and examine the entry again with care. At that moment, the lady with the Venetian fan and the coat of arms painted on the column of the portrait immediately came to mind.

The consulted entry stated verbatim: «Stemma famiglia #VOGANZI. @voganzi Arma: d’azzurro, a due tibie in decusse al naturale, accantonate da quattro gigli d’oro. A.S.Mi. Reg. 0002: stemmario Marco Cremosano - 1673; [...] et anco di diverse Famiglie d’Italia, Vol. II°, p. n°333, posizione, 3^ fila e 3° stemma da sx a dx. [Cfr.: Archinto: «de #VOGANZA de Venetia» (I 13 V a)]. Vittorio Gifra. Lun01-12-2025».

Indeed, it had been found: the coat of arms on the column belongs to the Voganzi family of Venice, whose arms are, in Italian «d’azzurro, a due tibie in decusse al naturale, accantonate da quattro gigli d’oro» ~ in English «Azure, two tibiae proper in saltire, between four fleurs de lis Or» ~ in Castilian «escudo de azur, dos tibias al natural en sotuer, cantonadas de cuatro flores de lis de oro».

I then proceeded to document the finding and inform the interested parties.

In the Archinto, the form «Voganza» appears, referring to a specific individual or to the nominal origin of the lineage, in the singular; for example, «una dama de la casa Voganza». By contrast, in the stemmario by Marco Cremosano the form «Voganzi» is recorded, which corresponds to the plural commonly used to designate the collective body of members of the Voganza family. Taking into account that only about 70 years elapsed between the portrait (1597) and the stemmario (1673), it is plausible that at the time the painting was made the surname could already appear as «Voganzi» or in a very similar form. Although surnames do evolve over time, the interval considered is not one of centuries, but of 7 decades.

My most important doubt in this identification concerns the colour of the field; when I first saw it, I hesitated between sable and azure. It seemed too light to be sable, I thought; it could be azure, but it is not very azure, so in my notes I left it as: «either sable or azure».

When I depict elements in saltire, I usually give precedence to the bend over the bend sinister, so my natural inclination would be to place the tibia bendwise above the tibia in bend sinisterwise. In this case, however, I have placed the tibia bend sinisterwise above, in order to remain consistent with the coat of arms on the column. In any event, this is merely an artistic detail, with no relevance from the standpoint of heraldic description, which is the same in both cases.

Categories: Identification, Interpreted, Watercolor, Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Without divisions, Azure, Two, Tibia, Proper, In saltire, Cantoned, Four, Fleur de lis and Or.

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.

Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Label and Suspended.

Style keywords: Freehand, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Coat of arms, Interpreted and Personal.

Bearer: Vidriales, C. M..

Interpreted coat of arms: with a semi-circular shape; illuminated with metals argent and or and colors sable and azure; outlined with sable; and a freehand finish.

Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Argent, Cross, Sable, Bordure, Motto, Or, Thirteen, Hurt, Hurt, torteau, pellet, pomme and golpe, Azure, Three, In pale, Four, Five, Chief, Fleur de lis, Cantoned and Martlet.

Style keywords: Freehand, Semi-circular, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Coat of arms, Interpreted and Personal.

Bearer: Vidriales, M. P..

Blazon of the lineage Voganzi in Venice

Azure, two tibiae proper in saltire, between four fleurs de lis Or

Escudo de azur, dos tibias al natural en sotuer, cantonadas de cuatro flores de lis de oro.

Illuminated and watercolor.

The blazon in Italian is «d’azzurro, a due tibie in decusse al naturale, accantonate da quattro gigli d’oro».

Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Azure, Two, Tibia, Proper, In saltire, Cantoned, Four, Fleur de lis and Or.

Style keywords: Watercolor, Outlined in sable and Illuminated.

Classification: Personal, Lineage, Interpreted and Coat of arms.