Artwork
Justice of Zaleuco
Justice of Zaleuco is a fresco painting by the Mannerist artist Perino del Vaga. It dates from 1521 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1521 by the Italian painter Perino del Vaga, this fresco belongs to the Late Renaissance period and exhibits the elongated forms and complex compositions typical of Mannerism. It is currently displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is Zaleucus, an ancient lawgiver, shown in a scene where a hair‑cutting ritual unfolds. The focus on the act of cutting hair may allude to themes of order, discipline, or the stripping away of excess, resonating with Zaleucus’s reputation for strict legal codes.
Technique & Style
Executed in true fresco, the pigments were applied onto wet plaster, allowing the colors to become integral to the wall surface. Perino’s handling of the figures reflects Mannerist tendencies: elongated bodies, exaggerated poses, and a crowded composition that emphasizes artificial elegance over naturalism.
History & Provenance
The fresco was originally painted for a private setting, later entering the Uffizi’s collection where it has been conserved as part of the museum’s holdings of Mannerist works. Its presence in the gallery reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving early 16th‑century Italian frescoes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Piero Bonaccorsi (1501 – October 19, 1547), known as Perino (or Perin) del Vaga, was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Late Renaissance/Mannerism.
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