PIERO DI COSIMO
(b. 1462, Firenze, d. 1521, Firenze)

Forest Fire

c. 1500
Panel, 71 x 203 cm
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

The Forest Fire contains a disjunctive narrative with animals fleeing the fires. Human figures either flee also or concentrate on bringing water to the fire. The composition is not firmly set. Instead, Piero loosely divided the picture by the placement of trees. The decorative richness of the work and the transparent beauty of the glowing distances in the forest and rich, coral colours can now be appreciated after a recent cleaning.