The Legend of Cloelia
Guidoccio di Giovanni Cozzarelli·ca. 1480
Historical Context
Guidoccio di Giovanni Cozzarelli was a Sienese painter and sculptor who worked in the tradition of Matteo di Giovanni. This panel depicting the Legend of Cloelia from around 1480 illustrates the Roman tale of the maiden who escaped from the Etruscan king Lars Porsena by swimming the Tiber — a story of female heroism popular on cassone panels and celebrating the virtues expected of Renaissance brides.
Technical Analysis
The tempera and gold on wood renders the narrative scene with the decorative, precise style characteristic of Sienese cassone painting. The continuous landscape setting and detailed figural groups create an engaging visual narrative within the decorative panel format.
