The Triumph of Fame; (averse) Impresa of the Medici Family and Arms of the Medici and Tornabuoni Families 

Curator: Looking at this piece, "The Triumph of Fame; (averse) Impresa of the Medici Family and Arms of the Medici and Tornabuoni Families," attributed to Lo Scheggia, one is immediately struck by its circular format and dense figuration. What are your initial impressions? Editor: I'm fascinated by the obvious display of power. All those figures on horseback, gazing upward... it reads like a procession meant to legitimize someone or something. Curator: The medium here is oil paint and it has all the characteristics of the Italian Renaissance style, which involved extensive underdrawing and layering. You have the bright lapis lazuli blue sky fading to white on the horizon, but beyond the visual experience there is of course so much labor and social implication. What meaning do you draw from it, thinking of your historical point of view? Editor: Well, given the title explicitly references the Medici family, we can interpret the piece as a reflection on the power dynamics of the era. The figure of Fame aloft suggests a desire for lasting legacy, very much rooted in the political ambitions and family connections between the Medici and Tornabuoni families of the time. Curator: Precisely. Lo Scheggia, whose real name was Giovanni di Ser Guido, came from a family of woodworkers, and had extensive knowledge of the workshops where luxury items were made. These connections and his practical know-how definitely contributed to the production quality of the final painting, a detail that risks to be overshadowed by the noble families who are portrayed on it. Editor: Right, and it makes one consider the socioeconomic conditions of that period. Who was producing the materials, grinding the pigments? How does this triumphal imagery actually function as propaganda? Is there any resistance? Curator: It's fascinating how it intertwines the artist’s material craftsmanship with these very loud societal messages about power and dynasty, creating something truly remarkable. Editor: Indeed. The painting's symbolism, embedded in the families emblems, and the technical skill involved really forces us to engage with questions about ambition and control in Renaissance Florence. A true time capsule of visual and material culture.