15th-century ceiling panels (1465-1475) from Crema; Tempera on panel, approximately 38 x 21 cm. The ceiling panels depict illustrious men: kings, emperors, leaders, and a peacock. The panels come from the Verdelli palace in Crema and are published in the book "Tavolette da soffitto Cremasche" (Ceiling Panels from Crema) by Silvana editorial. In the most important palaces of Cremona and neighboring cities, ceilings were decorated with these panels. The panels are of Cremonese production, and this pictorial genre particularly qualifies Lombard production between the 15th century and the beginning of the next, finding in Crema one of the main production centers. The panels were created to adorn noble residences and, more rarely, sacred and convent buildings. They decorated porticoes and halls, arranged along each side of every beam in the ceiling. They were arranged in the rooms in well-defined narrative sequences, based on iconographic programs dictated by the clients themselves, to exalt the family. The coat of arms of the owner of the residence was generally placed in the center of each beam, flanked by the insignia of the wife or other family members. The series of seven ceiling panels in question has been declared of exceptional cultural interest pursuant to Articles 10, paragraph 3, letter c) and 13 of the Cultural Heritage Code. They can only be sold as a set and not broken up.