San Marco Altarpiece (1490-92)
by Sandro BOTTICELLI

The beginning of Botticelli's late period of creativity is marked by the painting Coronation of the Virgin with Angels and St John the Evangelist, St Augustine, St Jerome and St Eligius. This altarpiece was painted for the chapel belonging to the Guild of the Goldsmiths in the Church of San Marco in Florence. The chapel was dedicated to St Eligius. The fact that the altarpiece was commissioned by the Guild of Goldsmiths explains the generous employment of expensive gold; it was of course unthinkable that the goldsmiths be sparing with this material.

Since 1919 the painting is in the Uffizi together with the predella (five scenes painted on a single panel) but without the superb original frame. It used to be in such poor condition that for half a century it was not possible to exhibit the picture. Following extensive restoration, which mainly consisted of reattaching those pieces of paint that had become loose, it was possible to put the painting on show once more in 1990.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Coronation of the Virgin (San Marco Altarpiece)
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 378 x 258 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

806*1218
True Color
166 Kb



Coronation of the Virgin (detail)
1490-92
Tempera on panel
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1043*876
True Color
124 Kb



Coronation of the Virgin (detail)
1490-92
Tempera on panel
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

750*1165
True Color
161 Kb



St John on Patmos
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1353*500
True Color
119 Kb



St Augustine in His Cell
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1371*500
True Color
101 Kb



Annunciation
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1356*500
True Color
136 Kb



St Jerome in Penitence
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1346*500
True Color
119 Kb



Miracle of St Eligius
1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

1354*500
True Color
116 Kb




Summary of works by Botticelli
| early paintings | late paintings |
religious paintings | page 1 | page 2 |
| Cappella Sistina | San Barnaba | San Marco |
| allegories | Nastagio | scenic stories | portraits |
| drawings | illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy |