Procession of the Magus Balthazar (detail) 1461

Benozzo Gozzoli made this detail of the Procession of the Magus Balthazar as part of a fresco cycle in the private chapel of the Medici Palace in Florence. Commissioned in the mid-15th century, the chapel and its frescoes are steeped in the political and cultural milieu of Renaissance Florence. The frescoes, while depicting a biblical scene, are in effect a representation of the Medici family and their allies. This detail, with its meticulous rendering of landscape, reflects the humanist interest in the natural world and the Medici's own power as patrons of the arts and sciences. But it also speaks to the complex relationship between religious devotion and secular power during the Renaissance. The exotic animals and lush landscapes, such as the orange tree and the palm tree, evoke a sense of the opulence and global reach of Florentine trade. This carefully constructed image offers a glimpse into a world where wealth, power, and piety were intertwined.