Renaissance Portraiture: Diptych Of Federico Da Monteforza

Visual Analysis Renaissance Portraiture della Francesca,P. (c.1472-74) Diptych of Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza.

This portrait is supposedly a commemorative portrait in commemoration of Battista Sforza the Duke’s second wife ,it was a very privileged thing to have an image of yourself and this portrays the Montefeltro wealth as the ‘Montefeltro family in Urbino was Piero's most generous patron towards the mid 15th century’ . Further the Duke was not an average Duke but also a professional military leader therefore it is likely he was extremely wealthy enabling this portrait to be created.

This image is a representation of the individual as it is of two people, however this painting could be a precursor of the enlightenment

The image originates from Ancient Rome as well as the coinage inspired profiles. Below the image there are Latin inscriptions which refer to the virtues that are represented on the triumphal carts for example on the Dukes cart we see sitting, a full frontal image of a personification of justice holding the scales of justice in her hand aswell as a sword. The Duke is dressed in a suit of armour, holding a baton and it looks like he is being crowned by perhaps a personification of victory. Fredericos chariot shows cardinal values of justice, moderation, valour and wisdom. The female cart is driven by cupid, this could symbolise the love that is expected of a Renaissance wife. Her cart is being drawn by unicorns, this could be a symbol of chastity while her cart also represents hope and charity. Perhaps these virtues were stereotypical requirements for the ideal Renaissance woman, could these virtues be the standard Renaissance women had to live up to? Were these virtues what were expected of an individual during the Renaissance? The background here is fanciful and dreamlike this could also play on the femininity of the Renaissance woman, it is interesting to note that in both parts of the picture it is women that personify the virtues there is no male personification of the

If it was a commemorative portrait what was her place in society after her death? Why was it so important to remember her? Could it perhaps simply be that wealth created a different death for the priveleged individuals in society providing paintings to ensure they would not be forgotten about, that they would not be the marginalized people of renaissance society. It can be presumed that this was not the case for middle class people that experienced death in their families, in their case they simply had one less person to contribute to their efforts of