Early Italian Renaissance

Andrea del Castagno

The Youthful David
about1450
tempera on leather on wood
National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC, US

Young Gentleman
about 1450
tempera on panel, 54×40 cm
National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC, US

Crucifixion
about 1450
tempera on panel, 29×35 cm
National Gallery
London, England

Around 1450 Andrea del Castagno frescoed the loggia of the Florentine villa Carducci at Legnaia with a series of famous people. On the long wall of the rectangular hall nine standing figures were arranged in three groups of thee people: Florentine heroes of freedom, famous women of the past and Tuscan poets.

In the 19th century these frescoes were removed from the wall and transferred to canvas. They are now in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Now at the Uffizi in Florence are: the three Florentine warriors (Pippo Spano, Farinata degli Uberti and Niccolò Acciaioli), the three writers (Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio), the three famous women (the Cumaean Sibyl, Queen Esther and Queen Tomyris).

Since the beginning of the 14th century frescos representing the famous heroes of the past were painted as traditional exemples of virtue in public buildings. In Renaissance art this theme became more and more important, but this series by Andrea del Castagno is unique in the way it formed groups of people, and for his choice of the three women.

Pipio Spano

Farinda degli Uberti

Dante Alighieri

Francesco Petrarch

Giovanni Boccaccio

Queen Tomyris