April. Fresco in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) 1470

This is a detail from a fresco made by Francesco del Cossa in the Palazzo Schifanoia in Ferrara. Ferrara, during the Renaissance, was a place of great artistic and intellectual ferment, particularly under the Este family. Del Cossa's work offers a window into this courtly world, but also hints at the social dynamics at play. The frescoes were part of a larger decorative program, each month assigned its zodiac sign and associated imagery. Here, we see representations of courtly life intertwined with mythological figures. There are rulers, horses, and putti. This fresco provides a glimpse into the construction of power and identity in Renaissance Italy, revealing the narratives that the ruling class crafted for themselves, and the complexities and contradictions inherent in such self-fashioning. The fresco invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, and how those stories shape our perceptions of the world.