Description
Piero Della Francesca's painting Polyptych of St Augustine: Crucifixion is an Italian Renaissance masterpiece noted for its refined artistic style and highly symbolic composition. The painting was originally part of a larger polyptych housed in the Church of Saint Augustine in Borgo San Sepolcro, Italy.
The work presents a scene of the crucifixion of Christ, with the figure of Jesus in the center and the two thieves on each side. The composition is very symmetrical, with the characters arranged in a perfect horizontal line. The figure of Christ is especially notable for its serenity and dignity, while the characters around him are full of pain and suffering.
Color is also an interesting aspect of painting. The palette is predominantly earth tones, with a subtle use of gold to highlight the crowns of thorns and details on the robes. The background is a pale blue sky, which contrasts with the darkness of the main scene.
The history of painting is fascinating. It was commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross in Borgo San Sepolcro in the 15th century, and is believed to have been painted between 1454 and 1469. The work was disassembled and sold piecemeal in the 19th century, but was eventually reunited and restored in the twentieth century.
There are little-known aspects of painting that are also interesting. For example, the figure of the thief to the left of Christ is believed to be based on a portrait by the artist himself. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the painting's balanced and symmetrical composition might have been influenced by the mathematical theory of the golden ratio.
In short, Piero Della Francesca's Polyptych of St Augustine: Crucifixion is an impressive work of art that stands out for its refined artistic style, symbolic composition, and careful use of color. The painting's history and little-known aspects make it even more fascinating for art and history lovers.