Palazzo della Ragione, entrance wall, boat

The two boats on the right side of the gable have red striped sails. It look likes the first boat is dragging the second one, much smaller, to the left. The men were painted using the same colour. In general, the three ships on the front wall seem to be sailing towards a port or a fortress. It is important to note that the wall on which the unknown author painted is not on the same level as the wall below, it does not stand out as much. It is hard to date the paintings that cover the gable both on the front and on the back wall, as the subject being represented and the technique do not provide enough information. Hypothesis go from the first decade of the twelfth century to the certain date of the construction of the Palace, 1250: “In tale anno a Mantova fu costruito il palazzo nuovo nel broletto”. Those who believe the frescoes date to an earlier period also believe that the Palazzo was erected on the site of a more ancient building.