Baronci Altarpiece

The Pala by Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, also called Pala Baroncini, is one of the earliest altar paintings by Raphael.

Image data

Informative

On December 10, 1500 Raphael and Evangelista da Pian di Meleto got together to paint the order, a large altarpiece for the chapel Baronci in the church of Sant'Agostino in Città di Castello. Work on the panel were terminated on 13 September of the following year. Of standing in the center of the image Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino was shown in an archway, which is the devil 's feet. Around him are three angels with banners and above his head is God the Father, with a crown in the hands, surrounded by cherubs. To the left is Mary and Saint Augustine, these two wear a crown in his hand.

During a severe earthquake in 1789, the painting was so badly damaged that it was decided to cut up the board and pick up only the intact parts. That same year, the fragments of Pope Pius VI were. acquired for the Vatican, where they remained until 1849. After that all trace of her for a long time loses. Only much later succeeded the research to prove four fragments of the main panel and two predella panels, which are now in various art collections:

  • Fragments of the main panel Angel. 31 x 27 cm in Brescia, Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo
  • Maria. 51 x 41 cm, Naples, Museo di Capodimonte
  • God the Father. 112 x 75 cm, Naples, Museo di Capodimonte
  • Angel. 57 x 36 cm, Paris, Musée National du Louvre

Angel fragment of the Pala, Paris,

  • Predella panels Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino brought two dead pigeons. Detroit Institute of Art
  • Blessed Nicholas of Tolentino rescues a drowning child. Detroit Institute of Art

A presentation of the main picture today provides a copy of the 18th century, which is located in the Pinacoteca civica in Città di Castello. Preparatory drawings are located in Lille ( Musée des Beaux -Arts ) and Oxford ( Ashmolean Museum ). Based on these figures, the research is now believed that the design of the altar all goes back to Raphael himself, whereas the execution of a joint work by Raphael and Evangelista da Pian di Meleto. While Raphael probably painted the main panel, the predella panels seem to be the Meleto a work of Evangelista da Pian.

1501 Papal States
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