Hugo Van Der Goes's Portinari Masterpiece

Hugo van der Goes’s Portinari Masterpiece

Hugo van der Goes is considered one of the great northern Italian Renaissance artists. His unique style and artistic inventions inspired numerous contemporary artists in Florence. The Portinari Altarpiece, Sant’ Egidio, Florence, Italy, ca. 1476, is remarked as great altarpiece within art history that clearly depicts the influence of patronage within society. Tommaso Portinari, the donor of the Portinari Altarpiece, an Italian agent who worked as an assistant in the Medici bank in Bruges and represented Lorenzo de’ Medici, is thought to commissioned this work to represent the Portinari family. Tommaso Portinari wanted to gain an important position with the Burgundian court with the
Egidio. With the demise of the Medici bank in Bruges due to his financial mismanagment, Tommaso commissioned this altarpiece which can be in a way to expunge his sins or usury. Usury in the form of repay for the sins to receive salvation due to ruining the family reputation with the international failure of the Medici bank. Portinari pruisiut of gaining a important position within the Dukes of Bungundy, he neglected his duties. “In seems that currying the royal favour with the Dukes of Burgundy took priority over profits, leading to the bank’s international failure and ultimate demise.” The status of the Portinari family was damaged due to this event. So Portinari wanted to the chapel to be understood as repentance towards God and the Virgin and the number of Masses pilgrimaging to ensure that spiritual salvation for himself, his wife and family. Perhaps also he was trying receive forgiveness from the royal court. He was concerned with both his nobility and spirituality and the imagery in the altarpiece was to reflect these concerns. Family chapels were used to worship deceased ancestors in way of gaining salvation in the afterlife. Even the
Tommaso Portinari benefited from the social changes taken place and pursued the chance of raising his family’s status. The Portinari Altarpiece completely achieved the goal of gaining recognition by both Portinari and Hugo van der Goes. Not until this time had a Netherlandish work invade a Florentine environment and conquered. This altarpiece became one of the most sought after and copied throughout Europe and has cemented its place in art