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The Dukes of Urbino Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza

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Artworks

The double portrait by Piero della Francesca conserved in the Uffizi Gallery

The double portrait entitled I Duchi di Urbino Federico da Montefeltro e Battista Sforza, is a famous work by Piero della Francesca preserved in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Painted between 1465 and 1472, the work adheres to the typical 15th-century Italian style of portraiture that was introduced by Pisanello, who was opposed to the Flemish style that depicted subjects in the three-quarters position.

The diptych is a classic example of Renaissance art: the image of the Duke and his wife is realistic in its physiognomic elements, but is greatly idealized in the fixed pose and gaze, not directed at anything in particular. The portraits are the solemn and ceremonial representation of two people who want to portray themselves according to classic canons, timeless. The two figures standout against a landscape background, which bestows the portraits with a feeling of incredible depth.

Gallerie degli Uffizi
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