St. Antony 1471

Domenico Ghirlandaio painted this fresco of St. Antony sometime before his death in Florence in 1494. The image is of the founder of monasticism, and Ghirlandaio has placed him within a simulated classical niche of pilasters and arches. This aesthetic choice reflects the dominant artistic fashion of the time. The 15th century in Florence was a period of rapid change, in which older religious certainties came into contact with renewed interest in classical learning and visual languages. Ghirlandaio’s painting offers a clear visual representation of this meeting of different worlds. Antony is depicted as a calm, authoritative figure, standing within a carefully constructed architectural setting, and his serene face suggests the importance of spiritual values. At the same time, the painting’s architectural detail, use of perspective, and measured composition, reflect the growing influence of humanist values. To understand this work better, we might turn to social histories of Renaissance Florence, as well as accounts of the artistic and religious institutions of the period. These can all help to illuminate the painting’s cultural significance.