Scene
The double portrait shows the Duke and Duchess in strict profile facing each other across two separate panels. Behind them, a vast, orderly landscape of hills and rivers stretches into the distance.
Portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino
Figures
Federico da Montefeltro appears in armor or dark dress, while Battista Sforza is shown in richly ornamented clothing with elaborate jewelry. Their profiles are sharply outlined against the sky.
Symbolism
The profile format recalls ancient Roman coins, signaling classical learning and ideals of rulership. The expansive landscape represents the territories over which they ruled.
Craft
The artist used careful atmospheric perspective to create a deep, continuous landscape that visually unites the two separate panels.
Impact
Art historians consider this diptych one of the most important portraits of the Italian Renaissance and a model for secular portraiture.
1 / 5
Tags
Craft
