Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494) was an Italian nobleman, philosopher, and quintessential Renaissance man lauded for his intellect, linguistic skills, and syncretic philosophy. He is best known for his “Oration on the Dignity of Man”, a foundational humanist text advocating free will, human potential, and the fusion of diverse knowledge traditions of science, medicine, culture, literature, spirituality, craftsmanship, and mastering the art of self-expression.

Pico is portrayed as a frog because throughout history, culture, and geography, frogs have been seen as symbols of creation, transformation, companionship, trickery, abundance, contradiction, magic, heresy, ambition, nonsense, and wisdom. Background text of the artwork are fragments from Pico’s 900 theses. Map fragments are of Wyoming—the Equality State—as it was the first in the U.S. to grant women the right to vote and hold office. Its cultural emphasis on rugged individualism and self-reliance align with Pico’s belief in the autonomous dignity of the individual.

Acrylic on canvas Size: 36 x 54 x 1¼ inches Price: $5400