Art is the Solution

Effects of Good Government in the City  Source:  Google Cultural Institute Today, I want to continue the discussion of the ideal city in art that we began yesterday. To do this, I want to talk about one of the great masterpieces of Italian art: The Allegory of Good and Bad Government , a series of frescos depicting the effects of government on the city and countryside. Each set of frescos depict a city under either good or bad governments. The allegorical figures of Peace, Fortitude, Prudence, Magnanimity, Temperance, and Justice reign over the “good city,” while Cruelty, Deceit, Fraud, Fury, Division, War, and Tyranny hold sway over the “bad city.” These frescos are interesting for a number of different reasons. They’re painted on the walls of Siena’s town hall, and they are a good example of transitions art as Europe began to move from the Medieval to the Renaissance period. There are elements of Renaissance art here, especially in the increased awareness of pers...