Vultus trifrons or an Allegory of Prudence 1337 - 1358

This intriguing marble sculpture, "Vultus trifrons or an Allegory of Prudence", was created by Pacio Bertini da Firenze around the mid-14th century. The bust presents three faces, carved with distinct expressions, emerging from a single neck. The material's texture, now softened by time, retains a subtle contrast between the polished faces and the more roughly hewn drapery. This contrast invites us to consider how Bertini uses form to convey meaning. The triform structure immediately recalls Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, suggesting a visual encoding of temporal awareness: a face to the past, present, and future. The sculpture embodies a complex semiotic system, challenging fixed notions of identity. The materiality of the marble itself becomes part of the allegory. As the stone has aged, it invites endless interpretation and re-interpretation of its cultural and philosophical resonance.