Paintings of the Months in Palazzo Schifanoia

The Paintings of the Months in Palazzo Schifanoia comprise a Renaissance fresco cycle originally designed to show all twelve months, though seven sections survive today. The walls divide into three stacked bands: gods in the upper register, zodiac symbols in the middle, and scenes of Ferrara life below.

The fresco cycle was commissioned by the Este family between 1469 and 1470, with artists trained in the style of Cosimo Tura, the leading court painter of the era. This work marked a high point of Renaissance achievement in Ferrara and shaped the palace's identity for centuries.

Each month appears as a blend of mythological figures and scenes from daily life in 15th-century Ferrara, showing how people understood the passage of time through both gods and their own activities. The frescoes reveal a world where astrology and everyday routines were deeply connected.

The frescoes are displayed in a museum gallery within the palace and are easily accessible to visitors. Walking slowly along each wall and viewing from different distances helps you take in the layered details and overall composition more fully.

The lower band includes remarkable scenes where Duke Borso d'Este appears performing everyday tasks alongside ordinary people, a surprising choice for Renaissance court art. This style of depicting a ruler mingling with subjects was uncommon and suggests a different approach to displaying power and authority.