Damiani — Chambers's Encyclopaedia

A detailed botanical illustration of a Common Dame's Violet (Hesperis matronalis). The drawing shows a slender, upright stem with several pairs of opposite, lanceolate leaves. At the top of the stem, there is a terminal raceme of small, five-petaled flowers. The flowers have a characteristic butterfly-like shape, with a long, narrow spur extending from the center of the petals. The illustration is rendered in a fine-line, engraved style. — Common Dame's Violet (*Hesperis matronalis*).

Damiani, PIETRO, a great Italian ecclesiastic of the 11th century, was born in 1007 at Ravenna, herded swine in his boyhood, but rose by his learning and devotion to the interests of the church to be cardinal and Bishop of Ostia (1057). He supported with vigour the ecclesiastical policy of Hildebrand (afterwards Gregory VII.), without sharing his arrogance and ambition, and was employed in many important missions. He died at Faenza in 1072. His letters, speeches, and other writings were collected by Cardinal Cajetan, and often reprinted (best ed. 4 vols. Ven. 1743). See the Life by Neukirch (Gött. 1875).