Piero della Francesca, The Duke and Duchess of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza, oil on wood, Italy ca. 1473-1475, The Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
The first image is painted on the back of the portrait. (See other painting below).
The second image is painted on the back of the portrait as well. The Duke and Duchess of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza is one of the most well-known portraits of the Italian Renaissance. This diptych features the Duke of Urbino, known as Federico da Montefeltro (1422-82), and his wife Battista Sforza (1446-1472). In the fourteenth century, the world looked at the past with such respect. In this piece, inspired by the design of ancient currency, the two prominent individuals are seen in profile, an angle that portrays an accurate representation of facial details without allowing their attitudes to protrude. Both figures seem to be indifferent to the turmoil around them and their personal emotions. The couple faces each other, allowing the bare spatial area between them to show the beautifully detailed landscape and background. This represents the space of the Marches, where both the Duke and Duchess ruled. The color contrast between both faces is remarkable. Montefeltro holds a bronze skin tone, whereas Sforza’s skin is doused with pale tones. The pallor of the Duchess holds more meaning than one might think. It not only respects the aesthetic values in fashion during the Renaissance but may also symbolize her death in 1472. On the back of the painted panels, both figures can be seen carried victoriously on Ancient Greek style wagons, paired with Christian virtues. The Latin inscriptions toward the bottom of each section pay respect to the couple’s moral values. The way that the images are placed on the reversed area of the frame tells the viewer that it would have been a part of a diptych. The double portrait symbolizes the powerful connection between Francesca and the couple. He was a common guest at their royal court. This later became one of the most influential areas to alter the artistic and cultural values of Italy. The magnificent painter incorporates the perspective learned during his artistic education in Florence, which also represented aspects of Flemish painting, ultimately reaching a delightful and unique amount of originality for his time.
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