La Dotta Ninfea Limited Edition Fountain Pen

Over 500 years ago Ulisse Aldrovandi was born in Bologna, a leading figure in modern science who is still considered a reference for contemporary Italian naturalists.

For the University of Bologna, he is the first scientist whose manuscripts, notes and letters are preserved: a treasure trove of information gathered by a man with a far-reaching curiosity.

Today, we owe our visual imagery of nature to Ulisse Aldrovandi and that first generation of naturalists. An imagery built on the tradition of nature illustrations, which perhaps nowhere as in Bologna saw such an extraordinary growth, and which would one day turn into the photographs and documentaries we all know.

Many of these flowers and plants studied and cataloged by Ulisse Aldrovandi can be seen today at the Botanical Garden of Bologna, which he himself founded in 1568 to provide students with a practical tool for cultivating and analyzing the plants treated during the lessons.

Nature never ceases to amaze us and every time we look at it we find a source of inspiration: our new fountain pens of LA DOTTA collection are dedicated to some of these flowers, Campanula Bononiensis and Ninfea (Water Lily).

A mother-of-pearl and iridescent lilac of the Campanula reminds us of the bell-shaped flowers, one species of which has been given a name linked to our city.

A grey/blue with lilac streaks of the Ninfea, on the other hand, reminds us of those aquatic plants with their roots anchored in the earth at the bottom of ponds that suddenly reveal their floating flowers.

Both embellished by platinum trim, the DOTTA Campanula and Ninfea are made in only 219 pieces per colour.

Source:

THE OTHER RENAISSANCE Ulisse Aldrovandi and the wonders of the world

Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna