Here's a breakdown:
* Di: means "of" or "from" in Italian.
* Ser: is a title of respect, similar to "Mister" or "Master". It was used before a man's first name, particularly during the Renaissance.
* Piero: is a common Italian name, likely referring to a specific person in the context.
Therefore, "di ser Piero" would be used to identify someone as being from the family or workshop of a Master Piero.
Example:
The most famous example is Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, which translates to "Leonardo, of Master Piero, from Vinci". This tells us that Leonardo was the son of Master Piero, a resident of Vinci.
Note:
The phrase "di ser Piero" doesn't necessarily indicate direct biological parentage. It could also refer to someone who was a pupil, apprentice, or associate of Master Piero.