Mantua, Ducal Palace:
"Camera Picta, northwest wall"

Andrea Mantegna's work is vividly brought to life on this wall, showcasing once again his imagination through innovative scenic devices that were groundbreaking for his time, all while adapting to the irregular shape of the room.
In a casual and almost familial representation, the court of Ludovico Gonzaga appears on a kind of terrace designed to navigate the obstacle posed by the fireplace, framed by a balustrade adorned with marble friezes. Below this platform, various luxurious carpets hang, adding further opulence to the scene. Above, in the lunettes and also centrally lower down, an intense blue sky opens up, enhancing the airy and natural feel of the entire composition.
On the left, beneath the open curtain, Ludovico is seated while a secretary (possibly Marsilio Andreasi or Raimondo Lupi di Soragna) presents him with a letter. In this letter, Bianca Maria Visconti requests him to go to Milan to defend the city by leading the troops of Francesco Sforza, who is gravely ill at that time. Beneath Ludovico's reading desk lies Rubino, his favorite dog and a symbol of loyalty, power, and love for hunting. To his right sits his wife, Barbara of Brandenburg, holding a child—likely their youngest daughter Paola—who seems to offer her an apple. Behind them stands their third son Gianfrancesco, who has his hands on the shoulders of a child, possibly Ludovichino, the protonotary. The man in the black hat is Vittorino da Feltre, tutor to Ludovico and his children. Standing behind Barbara is Rodolfo, while other figures are less distinctly recognizable.
The first profile in the background from the left is believed to represent Leon Battista Alberti. At the bottom is Lucia, the court dwarf and perhaps one of the most popular figures in this scene, as she gazes directly at the viewer. In front of one of the faux pilasters that delineate sections of the wall stands what is likely a portrait of Niccolò d’Este. On the right side, seven courtiers approach the family through an ante-room as they pass in front of a closed curtain.
The last ones enter by parting the curtain; behind them is a sunlit countryside with farmers at work. The final figure on the right in blue attire is thought to be Caterina, Ludovico's illegitimate daughter who is blind in one eye.