Piero Della Francesca: The Montefeltro Altarpiece

This new series examines several highly regarded masterpieces in an attempt to unravel the mysteries that surround them. Through an innovative concept and a fresh approach, 'Art Mysteries', edited by Marco Carminati and Stefano Zuffi, presents an up-to-date and spectacular reading of famous paintings, investigating key clues that suggest previously unknown background information. The sublime synthesis of Piero della Francesca's art, the Montefeltro Altarpiece, now in the Pinacoteca di Brera, is one of the most famous works dating from the painter's maturity. It was executed in the refined context of the Urbino court, probably to be placed above Duke Federico da Montefeltro's tomb in the Church of San Bernardino. Napoleon's soldiers took it to Milan in 1811, and since then it has never ceased to fascinate and intrigue viewers. What does its perfect marble architecture mean? Who exactly are the characters portrayed? Above all, what is the egg hanging from the shell-shaped vault above the Virgin Mary's head intended to convey? Seeking the answers to these questions involves an exciting journey of discovery leading to the solution of Piero della Francesca's enigmas.