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Vultus trifrons or an Allegory of Prudence

or another follower of Tino da Camaino
ca. 1340–55
Not on view
The three faces on this small bust, a fragment from a larger monument, represent the cardinal virtue Prudence. Prudence's three natures (memory, intelligence, and providence) are represented by a crowned face shown at different stages of life. This personification thus conflates Prudence with the concept of the Ages of Man. The merging of the notions of virtue and the human life cycle coincided with a more nuanced understanding of human nature as well as a focus on the individual.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Vultus trifrons or an Allegory of Prudence
  • Artist: Pacio Bertini da Firenze (Florentine, active 1325–ca. 1351)
  • Artist: and Giovanni Bertini da Firenze (Florentine, active 1325–ca. 1351)
  • Artist: or another follower of Tino da Camaino (Siena 1285–1337 Naples)
  • Date: ca. 1340–55
  • Medium: Carrara marble
  • Dimensions: H: 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) W: 4 15/16 (12.5 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Marble
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1491
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

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