Ambition, Art, and Image-Making in an Early Quattrocento Court The Palazzo Trinci Frescoes Routledge Research in Art History Series

This study provides new interpretations of the little-known but fascinating Palazzo Trinci frescoes, relating them for the first time both to their physical context, and to their social, political, and cultural environment.

Chapters show how a humanist agenda subverted the historical and mythical associations more frequently used to promote powerful families, to point the Trinci family in new directions. It also shows how the artists involved adapted established civic, religious, and chivalric imagery in support of these ideas. The book argues that the resulting decorations are highly unusual for the period, in their serious political and social purpose. Positioning the Trinci as bringers of peace, not war, the family is now associated with culture and education, and presented as willing to encourage debate about the character of the virtuous ruler and the nature of good government.

The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history and Renaissance studies.

Introduction 1. The Trinci: Setting the Scene 2. The Bridge: A Transitional Space 3. The Story of Ilia: Foundation Myth or Investigation of Virtue? 4. The Sala dei Giganti: The Lessons from History 5. The Camera delle Rose: Vita Activa and Vita Contemplativa Conclusion Afterword

Sarah Roberts received a PhD in Art History from the Open University and is now an independent researcher and writer.