Saint Bernardino 1447 - 1463

Sano di Pietro created this panel painting of Saint Bernardino in 15th-century Siena, Italy, a time when religious imagery played a crucial role in shaping social values. The image, with its gold leaf background, presents Bernardino as a figure of reverence. He holds a panel displaying the IHS monogram, a symbol promoted by Bernardino to refocus religious devotion on Christ. This was a period of intense religious reform and the rise of Humanism. The Franciscans, like Bernardino, often took a progressive stance, advocating for the poor and challenging the established Church's excesses. Sano di Pietro's work reflects the social dynamics of Siena, where confraternities and religious orders held significant influence. Civic identity was interwoven with religious practice. Historical documents such as guild records, sermons, and confraternity statutes, help us understand the complex relationship between art, faith, and society in Renaissance Siena. Art like this wasn't just aesthetic, it was a tool in shaping social attitudes.