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

This detail is from Francesco del Cossa's *Allegory of March – Triumph of Minerva and Sign of Aries* (c. 1470), part of a larger fresco cycle in the Palazzo Schifanoia. The fresco depicts the triumph of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war, over Mars, the god of war. The detail shows a child, possibly representing the sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. The child's yellow dress and position suggest that he is being led by the goddess Minerva. The fresco series was commissioned by the Duke of Ferrara, Borso d'Este, who wanted to celebrate the cycle of the year and the power of his dynasty. Cossa's *Allegory of March* demonstrates a masterful balance of classical mythology and humanist ideals, with a captivating sense of realism and detail.