Room 5

Look at the different shapes of these paintings. Some were designed to fit into furniture or wooden wall panelling in wealthy Italian homes. Their present frames can make them seem like independent pictures, although they once belonged to a bedroom or a larger decorative scheme. Biblical stories shared that domestic setting with ancient history and portraits. Pontormo’s scenes of Joseph explore forgiveness and family loyalty, while Beccafumi’s heroines offered examples of courage and conduct. These were subjects a household could discuss as well as admire. The room gives a glimpse of what a Renaissance family wanted its visitors, and its own members, to see.