Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and Sign of Aries. Frescos in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) 1470

Curator: We’re looking at a detail from "Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and Sign of Aries," a fresco from around 1470 by Francesco del Cossa, originally part of a larger series in the Palazzo Schifanoia. Editor: Ah, look at this; so much activity! A whole world is happening in a corner. I'm immediately drawn to that pale white fabric being unfurled; it's almost luminous, otherworldly. It feels like the scene is being constructed. Curator: Indeed! Del Cossa presents a vibrant tapestry of courtly and everyday life, all interwoven with astrological and mythological symbolism. He painted this during a time when humanist ideas were spreading throughout Italy. Each month had it's own bay that blended astrological symbols with the daily life of the duke of the palace. Editor: It's fascinating how he balances the meticulous detail with a sense of, almost dreamlike, looseness, if that makes sense. Look at the dogs – lean greyhounds streaking across the landscape, almost ghosts compared to the earthy laborers. Curator: Absolutely. The painting provides a look into the role of nobility in daily life. What might at first glance appear as just normal day-to-day imagery transforms into an almost utopian fantasy. Del Cossa doesn’t just show us life, but offers commentary on it as well. Editor: Do you know, I almost feel as if I’ve stumbled into someone's memory; distant but so intensely felt, these folks are still going about their work. And the colours – soft, muted, like whispers of time gone by. Even with all the going-ons. there is quiet at the back of the scene. A great calmness overall. Curator: Time very consciously visualized as memory and aspiration! Frescoes like this played a critical role, not just aesthetically but politically, communicating messages of power and the prevailing social order to both the ducal court and visiting dignitaries. Art being propaganda is always interesting. Editor: It really does make you think; it is like they are creating propaganda by having their daily lives shown. But it does create a mood; a scene out of time! It almost feels like the fabric being unfurled. Such a nice insight into so long ago. Curator: The painting is one that encapsulates what art is capable of—reflection and direction for society. Editor: What a vivid window! A testament to how paint and perspective can distill whole worlds into a single glance, right?