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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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 |



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