Tarquinius Priscus Entering Rome
1470
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1470
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man on a white horse rides into a walled city, surrounded by soldiers and cheering crowds. A woman in red points ahead, her face calm and knowing. This painting was once the front of a wooden chest given to a bride in 1400s Italy. The scene shows a Roman king’s lucky arrival, read as a lesson in wifely support. The artist painted it to last—bright colors, careful folds in the clothes, even the way light hits the horse’s flank. Look up other works about Italy, late 15th century to see how artists told stories on furniture.
