April. Fresco in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) 1470

Francesco del Cossa painted this detail of "April" on a fresco in Palazzo Schifanoia. The painting presents a tightly grouped cluster of figures set against a background of receding arches. The use of fresco gives the image a subdued, earthy palette, which is punctuated by vivid reds and golds. These colours draw your eye across the surface of the fresco. The formal arrangement of figures into a semi-circular shape directs our focus to the exchange occurring at its centre. The artist has skillfully utilized line and colour to create depth and a sense of movement within a static medium. You can see this through how the composition encourages us to interpret a set of social relations. It may hint at the values and power dynamics inherent in the society of Renaissance Ferrara. Del Cossa challenges fixed meanings by positioning the viewer as a participant in the scene, which encourages a reinterpretation of values. The visual elements in the painting prompt contemplation on the nature of representation and spectatorship.