Portrait of Francesco Sassetti 1483

Domenico Ghirlandaio painted this portrait of Francesco Sassetti with fresco. Ghirlandaio applied pigments to wet plaster, meaning the painting became one with the wall as it dried, binding pigment and surface together. This was not only a complex task, calling for precise and swift application, but the appearance of the fresco, its color, depended on ambient temperature and the nature of the wall. The monumental presence of the figure, dressed in a finely rendered robe and set against a backdrop of architectural decoration, is typical of Ghirlandaio’s approach. The medium lent itself to the Renaissance aesthetic, where grandeur and detail were highly prized. Think too about the social context: fresco painting was a demanding process, requiring multiple skilled hands. This artwork embodies not only Ghirlandaio's artistic vision, but the coordinated labor of numerous artisans, each contributing to the final image, bridging the fine arts and skilled craft traditions.