Volto del Cavallo in Ferrara: problems of time, space, glory and memory

Abstract

The article touches upon characteristic features of a so-called Volto del Cavallo, a Renaissance portal on the rulers’ d’Este palace facade in the 15th century Ferrara. It’s analyzed in the process of its gradual formation and in the context of such problems as time (in terms of a private biography as well as historically), space (palatial space, that of Ferrara as a city, space of the Quattrocento Ecumene), glory and last but not least memory of Ferrara leaders. This range of Volto del Cavallo parallel interpretations tends to be new and brings one to a conclusion that each aspect in question, when looked at in connection with the discussed portal was engaged in glorification of the d’Este power.