Francesco Pesellino - Italian Competence of Florentine Flavor
Born around 1422 in Italy, Pesellino's real name was Francesco di Stefano.
He was the grandson of the leading Early Renaissance painter Giuliano Pesello (1367-1446).
His father Stefano di Francesco was also an artist, but he could not nurture his son for long.
His sudden demise left Pesellino orphaned at the tender age of five.
However, Giuliano Pesello took over and Pesellino stayed at his maternal house.
Under Pesello's able mentorship, he also got associated with the Florence School of Art.
Pesellino was as much known for his charming personality, as for his artistic pursuits.
He tied the knot in the year 1442.
A year after the death of his grandfather, he joined the Florentine painter's guild and started his work at the legendary Italian Quattrocento painter Fra' Filippo Lippi's studio.
The delicate execution of his early works, like his year 1450 pieces 'Story of Griselda' and 'Virgin and Child with Six Saints,' were often attributed to Filippo Lippi's influence.
His earliest recorded works also belong to this period.
The predella of an altarpiece at Santa Croce, based upon the legend of St.
Nicholas, is one such example.
Pesellino had mastered the art of decorating cassone chests.
Such ornamental chests were often used as the status symbols for the wealthy Italian businesspersons and aristocrats in the Late Middle Ages.
Some of the noted works in this genre were 'Judgment Scene,' 'The Triumph of Fame, Time, and Eternity' (45.
4 cm X 157.
4 cm), and 'The Triumph of Love, Chastity, and Death' (42.
5 cm X 158.
1 cm), among others.
The last two were highly detailed paintings over 'tempera on wood' base and were set in rich colors with pure gold.
Pesellino had an equally fine hand in painting larger frames, the example of which can be seen in paintings, such as 'Madonna,' 'Madonna and Saints,' and 'Crucifixion.
' In the year 1453, Pesellino forged a professional alliance with Italian Renaissance artists Piero di Lorenzo di Pratese (1462-1521).
Together, these two artists undertook the commission on the altarpiece at the Church of the Trinità, Pistoia.
However, Pesellino's premature death at the age of 35, did not allow him the pleasure to see his finished work.
Today, only this altarpiece is treasured in the National Gallery, London.
Although, Pesellino's career lacked in the number of years he gave to art, it nowhere lacked in brilliance and became a defining influence in the styles of a number of later Florentine painters.
He was the grandson of the leading Early Renaissance painter Giuliano Pesello (1367-1446).
His father Stefano di Francesco was also an artist, but he could not nurture his son for long.
His sudden demise left Pesellino orphaned at the tender age of five.
However, Giuliano Pesello took over and Pesellino stayed at his maternal house.
Under Pesello's able mentorship, he also got associated with the Florence School of Art.
Pesellino was as much known for his charming personality, as for his artistic pursuits.
He tied the knot in the year 1442.
A year after the death of his grandfather, he joined the Florentine painter's guild and started his work at the legendary Italian Quattrocento painter Fra' Filippo Lippi's studio.
The delicate execution of his early works, like his year 1450 pieces 'Story of Griselda' and 'Virgin and Child with Six Saints,' were often attributed to Filippo Lippi's influence.
His earliest recorded works also belong to this period.
The predella of an altarpiece at Santa Croce, based upon the legend of St.
Nicholas, is one such example.
Pesellino had mastered the art of decorating cassone chests.
Such ornamental chests were often used as the status symbols for the wealthy Italian businesspersons and aristocrats in the Late Middle Ages.
Some of the noted works in this genre were 'Judgment Scene,' 'The Triumph of Fame, Time, and Eternity' (45.
4 cm X 157.
4 cm), and 'The Triumph of Love, Chastity, and Death' (42.
5 cm X 158.
1 cm), among others.
The last two were highly detailed paintings over 'tempera on wood' base and were set in rich colors with pure gold.
Pesellino had an equally fine hand in painting larger frames, the example of which can be seen in paintings, such as 'Madonna,' 'Madonna and Saints,' and 'Crucifixion.
' In the year 1453, Pesellino forged a professional alliance with Italian Renaissance artists Piero di Lorenzo di Pratese (1462-1521).
Together, these two artists undertook the commission on the altarpiece at the Church of the Trinità, Pistoia.
However, Pesellino's premature death at the age of 35, did not allow him the pleasure to see his finished work.
Today, only this altarpiece is treasured in the National Gallery, London.
Although, Pesellino's career lacked in the number of years he gave to art, it nowhere lacked in brilliance and became a defining influence in the styles of a number of later Florentine painters.
Source...