The Ideal City (painting)

The Arch of Constantine, Rome

The painting consists of a city landscape, glowing in the morning light, nearly empty of human activity. There are five structures that define the space. At the center is a Roman triumphal arch, reminiscent of the Arch of Constantine in Rome, the prominent position of which speaks to the importance of military leadership. Federico was a leading military commander of his day, but the place on the arch for dedication has been left blank. The amphitheater is modeled after the Colosseum in Rome, and could represent the importance of providing entertainment for the well-being of the people. The octagonal building is the only structure not specifically Roman, being modeled after the Baptistery in Florence. However, there is an argument that the original structure incorporated a Roman temple. These ancient structures are joined by two modern buildings of the time. The one on the left, modeled after mid-15th century Florentine palaces of the Medici family, is representative of a residence appropriate to the ruling class. The building to the right with the arches and cloth covered screens is also thought to be a residence. Visible in the background are other 15th-century buildings, including a warehouse. In the foreground, there are four allegorical sculptures, each representing the personification of virtue: Justice with her scales, Moderation with a pitcher of water to mix with wine, Liberality with a cornucopia, and Courage with a column. The fountain at the center, featuring a bronzed winged Sprite, represents a functional source of water. Providing patrons with good water was a sign of magnanimity.[2]

The Ideal City celebrates the values in a well-ordered society, with architecture standing as a metaphor for good government.[2] The illusion of space is achieved using a mathematical perspective system developed in Florence. The receding lines that establish spatial relationships converge at a central point, located in the middle of the city gate.[5]

In a scene from the 1995 thriller, Twelve Monkeys, Bruce Willis' character looks at The Ideal City in the Walters Art Museum.[6]

The Ideal City of Urbino is one of the paintings available to buy virtually inside the video game Assassin's Creed 2.

The Ideal City was featured in Off the Wall, an open-air exhibition on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland from November 2012 through April 2013. A reproduction of the painting was displayed at Hopkins Plaza. The original is part of The Walters Art Museum collection.[7] The National Gallery in London began the concept of bringing art out of doors in 2007 and the Detroit Institute of Art introduced the concept in the U.S.. The Off the Wall reproductions of the Walters' paintings were done on weather-resistant vinyl and included a description of the painting and a QR code for smartphones.[8]