Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and Sign of Aries. Frescos in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) 1470

Francesco del Cossa painted this fresco, Allegory of March, in the Palazzo Schifanoia, Italy, during the 1460s or 1470s. It depicts a scene of courtly life under the zodiac sign of Aries, embodying the values and ideals of the ruling Este family. The image creates meaning through its depiction of chivalry, with knights on horseback and hunting scenes. These images reference the cultural associations with nobility and power during the Italian Renaissance. The fresco functioned as a form of self-promotion for the Este family. The Este family were patrons of the arts and used their wealth to commission works that celebrated their status and achievements, bolstering their political legitimacy through cultural patronage. To fully understand the meaning, we as historians might research the social and political context of Renaissance Ferrara, including the role of courtly life and the patronage system. We can then reflect on how the artwork served to reinforce existing social hierarchies and project an image of power and refinement.