Double Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro and His Son Guidobaldo, ca. 1475

© Galleria Nationale della Marche, Urbino

Justus of Ghent (Flemish, fl. ca. 1460-ca. 1480) or Pedro Berruguete (Spanish, ca. 1450-1504)?. Double Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro and His Son Guidobaldo, ca. 1475. Oil on panel. 53 x 29 3/4 in. (1345 x 755 mm).

Federico da Montefeltro (1422-1482), the Duke of Urbino, was one of Renaissance Italy's most sought-after condottieri (hired mercenaries) as well as a prominent patron of the arts and Humanism. He owned one of the greatest libraries in fifteenth-century Europe. It contained more than 1000 manuscripts, encyclopedic in scope, including studies in astrology, geography, history, poetry and theology as well as works in Latin, Greek, Arabic and Hebrew. The books, musical and scientific instruments, armor and various objects depicted in the trompe l'oeil cabinets from the duke's two intarsia (wood inlay) studioli (rooms designed for intellectual contemplation and the reception of important guests) recall Federico's intellectual interests and military pursuits. Federico da Montefeltro and His Library in the Morgan Library & Museum's new first-floor Clare Eddy Thaw Gallery presents materials from his collection as well as one of Federico's recently restored lecterns. The exhibition's walls are covered with color digital reproductions of the wood panels and portraits from the walls of the duke's study in Urbino.

"Federico da Montefeltro and His Library" is on view from June 8 through September 30, 2007 at the Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue at East 36 Street, New York, NY 10016 (Telephone: 212-685-0008; Website). The facility is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Admission is $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for senior citizens (65 years of age and over) and students with a current school identification card. Admission is free on Friday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

This picture comes from one of the many special art exhibitions available to you during Summer 2007. To view the full list of shows, please see this page.

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From your Guide: Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, is a specialist in ancient, late-medieval and Renaissance art and history, and a regular contributor to About Art History. You may read all of his Special Exhibition and Catalogue Reviews here.