ABSTRACT

On 25 March 1470, the Bolognese painter Francesco del Cossa wrote to the Duke of Modena and Reggio and Marquis of Ferrara, Borso d'Este, to re­ quest a higher fee for the paintings he had done in a hall in the Palazzo Schifanoia at Ferrara.1 His description makes it clear that he was referring to the east wall of the Salone dei Mesi, where he had painted the zodiacal decans, tutelary deities and terrestrial activities associated with Aries, Taurus (Fig. 1.1) and Gemini.2 The Duke declined his request.