5Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, Italy
Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico houses some of the most politically charged frescoes of the Italian Middle Ages. Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s “Allegory of Good and Bad Government” (1338-1339) covers three walls of the Sala dei Nove (Room of the Nine) and provides a vivid lesson on civic responsibility and governance. This secular fresco cycle is unusual for its time, diverging from religious themes to focus on the relationship between good governance and social harmony.
The frescoes stand as a powerful reminder of the role that art plays in political life. Lorenzetti’s work is remarkable for its detail, including landscapes, urban scenes, and intricate figures that illustrate the effects of both virtuous and corrupt governance. The scene depicting good government in particular is a vivid illustration of how peace and prosperity are reflected in civic life.
