Use the Forks, Henry: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Scappi, Sztućce.jpg|thumb|upright|Spoon, fork and knife in an illustration from B. Scappi’s ''Opera'' (1570)]]

We have no direct evidence that Catherine herself ever used a fork, but it’s unlikely that she was unfamiliar with the utensil. For while we don’t know for sure whether she brought the fork from Italy to France, it is certain that she procured for herself an Italian cookbook. And not just any cookbook! It was the work of Bartolomeo Scappi, titled ''Opera di Bartolomeo Scappi'', or ''The Work of Bartolomeo Scappi''. Scappi, papal master chef during the pontificates of Piuses IV and V, published in 1570 the most extensive compendium of culinary knowledge produced in the entire 16th century. What is more – and this was a complete novelty – the book was rich in instructive (not merely decorative) illustrations. Among them – for the first time in any book – appeared an image showing what a table fork looked like. One may therefore assume that Catherine possessed at least a theoretical knowledge of the fork.

We have no direct evidence that Catherine herself ever used a fork, but it’s unlikely that she was unfamiliar with the utensil. For while we don’t know for sure whether she brought the fork from Italy to France, it is certain that she procured for herself an Italian cookbook. And not just any cookbook! It was the work of Bartolomeo Scappi, titled ''Opera di Bartolomeo Scappi'', or ''The Work of Bartolomeo Scappi''. Scappi, papal master chef during the pontificates of Piuses IV and V, published in 1570 the most extensive compendium of culinary knowledge produced in the entire 16th century. What is more – and this was a complete novelty – the book was rich in instructive (not merely decorative) illustrations. Among them, for the first time in any book, appeared an image showing what a table fork looked like. One may therefore assume that Catherine possessed at least a theoretical knowledge of the fork.

Ultimately, however, one should not overestimate the role of individuals in the spread of culinary customs. Well‑known figures from the highest political elites – Maria Argyropoulina, Bona Sforza, Catherine de’ Medici or Henry III – may indeed have played some part in popularizing the fork in Europe, but far more important to this process were the broader contacts between nations: through wars, trade, pilgrimages and the like.

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 [[File:Scappi, Sztućce.jpg|thumb|upright|Spoon, fork and knife in an illustration from B.&nbsp;Scappi’s ''Opera'' (1570)]]
-We have no direct evidence that Catherine herself ever used a&nbsp;fork, but it’s unlikely that she was unfamiliar with the utensil. For while we don’t know for sure whether she brought the fork from Italy to France, it is certain that she procured for herself an Italian cookbook. And not just any cookbook! It was the work of Bartolomeo Scappi, titled ''Opera di Bartolomeo Scappi'', or ''The Work of Bartolomeo Scappi''. Scappi, papal master chef during the pontificates of Piuses IV and V, published in 1570 the most extensive compendium of culinary knowledge produced in the entire 16th century. What is more – and this was a&nbsp;complete novelty – the book was rich in instructive (not merely decorative) illustrations. Among them – for the first time in any book – appeared an image showing what a&nbsp;table fork looked like. One may therefore assume that Catherine possessed at least a&nbsp;theoretical knowledge of the fork.
+We have no direct evidence that Catherine herself ever used a&nbsp;fork, but it’s unlikely that she was unfamiliar with the utensil. For while we don’t know for sure whether she brought the fork from Italy to France, it is certain that she procured for herself an Italian cookbook. And not just any cookbook! It was the work of Bartolomeo Scappi, titled ''Opera di Bartolomeo Scappi'', or ''The Work of Bartolomeo Scappi''. Scappi, papal master chef during the pontificates of Piuses IV and V, published in 1570 the most extensive compendium of culinary knowledge produced in the entire 16th century. What is more – and this was a&nbsp;complete novelty – the book was rich in instructive (not merely decorative) illustrations. Among them, for the first time in any book, appeared an image showing what a&nbsp;table fork looked like. One may therefore assume that Catherine possessed at least a&nbsp;theoretical knowledge of the fork.
 Ultimately, however, one should not overestimate the role of individuals in the spread of culinary customs. Well‑known figures from the highest political elites – Maria Argyropoulina, Bona Sforza, Catherine de’ Medici or Henry III – may indeed have played some part in popularizing the fork in Europe, but far more important to this process were the broader contacts between nations: through wars, trade, pilgrimages and the like.