The following article seeks to enlighten the programmatic role of 16th century literary imprese, especially before the background of academic literary practice in Italy. After a brief introduction to this mixed genre which comprises an image and a motto that become the expression of an individual’s qualities, thoughts and intentions, the article will focus on the theoretical requirements and creational skills demanded of the impresa by the historian Giovio and the Sienese Intronati Academy. Polysemy turns out to be one of the impresa’s most basic features, as opposed to the definiteness of the emblem with which it is frequently mistaken. The basic aim is then to show how polysemy not only links the elements of the impresa to one another but, beyond that, connects the impresa to the contents of academic literary activity. The latter allows deciphering the impresa as iconicliterary, programmatic manifesto of 16th century academies, evidence of which will be given by the analysis of the impresa-literature interaction of two academies (Intronati, Eterei ).