April. Fresco in Palazzo Schifanoia (detail) - Triumph of Venus 1470

Francesco del Cossa painted this fresco, a detail from ‘April, Triumph of Venus’, in the Palazzo Schifanoia, likely in the 1470s. The ‘Hall of the Months’ in this palace was designed to celebrate the ruling Este family through a combination of astrology and humanist allegory. The Palazzo Schifanoia itself was a product of Ferrara's unique political and cultural climate, where courtly life and artistic patronage were intertwined. The Este family shaped Ferrara into a center of Renaissance art, actively commissioning works that reflected their power and cultivated image. This section represents April under the dominion of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, fertility, and beauty. It’s a vision of courtly love, as the Este family saw it. The fresco's themes offer a window into the values of the Ferrarese court and provide insights into the ways in which Renaissance elites used art to legitimize their status. We must consult archival records of the court, astrological calendars, and Renaissance literature to fully decode the imagery. Only then can we appreciate the complexities of art as a historical artifact.