In about 1595, Federico Zuccaro created a series of drawings that tells the rags-to-riches tale of his adored teacher and older brother, Taddeo Zuccaro. It is the first illustrated artist's biography in Western art. Federico aimed to use these drawings' designs for the decoration of his lavish Roman palace, which he intended to be a hostel that would protect young artists in Rome from the hardships that befell his beloved elder brother.
The series begins with this allegorical drawing depicting figures flanking a roundel with the Zuccaro family emblem: a cone of sugar (zucchero) decorated
with pumpkin flowers (fiori di zucca). Both
motifs are wordplays on the name Zuccaro. Dressed
in a long, hooded cloak and holding a cross, Faith
gestures toward the heavens while a small dog
representing fidelity paws her knee. Hope lifts her
eyes to heaven, her hands joined in prayer. Click "next" or a number below to explore more of the drawings in the series.
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