Courtly Apes: Reconsidering the Chlorocebus Monkeys in Palazzo Schifanoia

Description

“New Perspectives in Italian Art I: Frescoes and Wall Paintings"

The frescoes of Palazzo Schifanoia have been the subject of innumerable academic studies, but these have largely overlooked the non-human subjects of the cycle. The monkeys found in this room, from the highly stylized apes in the mythological trionfi to the long-tailed monkeys below, provide insight into shifting modes of representation. By comparing these visual strategies, I provide a new reading of the Chlorocebus monkeys that reveals their role in the diplomatic messaging of this fresco cycle.

Although they have variously been referred to as “monkeys,” “apes,” and “baboons,” their visible anatomy identifies them definitively as part of the Chlorocebus genus. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, they embody a network of trade and gift exchange leading to this Ferrarese palace. By analyzing their origins and behavior from a scientific perspective, we can begin to form a deeper understanding of the global ties embodied by the naturalistically rendered Chlorocebus monkeys in the lower panels of March and August.

Period	19 Feb 2026
Event title	Renaissance Society of America Annual Conference
Event type	Conference
Location	San Francisco, United States, CaliforniaShow on map