The Arithmetic 1491

Pinturicchio created this fresco titled ‘The Arithmetic’ in Italy, though the exact date of its creation remains unknown. The fresco is one of a series of allegorical figures representing the liberal arts, sciences, and other branches of knowledge. The figures and their placement within a room were intended to represent the ideal education of the Renaissance elite. The image creates meaning through visual codes of its time, such as the personification of abstract concepts. It offers insight into the social and intellectual values of the Renaissance, where knowledge was seen as a means of personal and societal advancement. Art historians use sources like period texts on education, social history and contemporary accounts to understand the place this work had within the wider context of Renaissance intellectual life. This helps us appreciate how the artist has made a statement about the era's values by depicting such images.