Museum Tour: Bartolomeo di Giovanni - an Italian Painter

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Bartolomeo di Giovanni was an Italian painter, active between 1480 and 1510. The artist is also known as Alunno di Domenico due to links with his trainer Domenico Ghirlandaio during the early Renaissance period. Bartolomeo di Giovanni is one of the painters from the Florentine School that was popular during the Renaissance. He is celebrated for his prowess as a narrative painter. He was able to incorporate intricate details in his paintings, which is an attractive and unique style in his works (The National Gallery). One of his celebrated works is the ‘Lamentation with Saints and Donor’ found at Toronto AGO. During the Renaissance period, people in Europe had the opportunity to discover new religions that inspired different characters of the world and humankind. The discoveries that were inspired by the voyages like those of Christopher Columbus and the Greek humanist philosophy and literature led to new ideas concerning incorporation of the religion in art. Subsequently, artists in the Renaissance period saw Jesus’ new life. From this approach, artists like Giovanni were able to reanimate the Christian faith, giving them the opportunity to participate in the newness of life.
The ‘Lamentation with Saints and a Donor’ painting presents a scene of lamentation after the death of Jesus. According to the Toronto AGO description, it was meant to inspire the audience to emulate Christ as well as the saints. Bartolomeo di Giovanni incorporates his style cleverly by adding narrative aspects in his work, adding the donor who commissioned the painting as the character on the lower right side in a red robe. From this perspective, Bartolomeo di Giovanni presents the donor as if he was present during that moment of lamentation. The painting shows Saint Jerome and Andrew, who lived long after the death of Christ. Saint Andrew plays the patron role, which he acknowledges by placing his hand on the donor’s head. Saint Jerome is presented kneeling on the left of the painting. The description by Toronto AGO shows the narrative nature of Bartolomeo di Giovanni works through the saint, whose cult thrived in the 15th century, bowing the head and clasping the hands as if to engage in the act of the donor’s.
Reviews of Bartolomeo di Giovanni works show that his style had a different influence from that of his, master whom he had collaborated with on many projects (Peterson, Seiner, and Garrett 43). Bartolomeo di Giovanni wor...