Rhetoric

This picture is part of a series representing the seven Liberal Arts, of which two others (formerly Berlin, destroyed 1945) represented 'Astronomy', and 'Grammar' - where the kneeling figure was identified as Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino (1422 - 1482). The inscription across the background of this picture refers to him. The kneeling youth may be intended to represent the Duke's son Guidobaldo, perhaps in the role of Cicero. Rhetoric, dressed richly and exotically, points to a passage in an open book. A fourth picture, 'Music', is also in the Collection.

The series was made for one of the palaces of the Duke of Urbino, conceivably for the library at Castel Durante.