Visions of Paradise showcases new scholarly research on the monumental Palmieri Altarpiece by Francesco Botticini (1446–1498). The painting, which depicts the Assumption of the Virgin, was made for the funerary chapel of the Florentine citizen Matteo Palmieri (1406–1475). Palmieri was a true “Renaissance Man”—an associate of the Medici and a humanist, whose career encompassed a variety of roles, as diplomat, poet, writer, and apothecary.
In this book, Jennifer Sliwka uncovers new insights about the culture that produced this stunning altarpiece and the fascinating patron who commissioned it. In addition to its religious content, the altarpiece depicts a panoramic landscape that serves as a very early example of a “city portrait” of Florence; this accurate, detailed view, which includes Palmieri’s villa and farm, predates several of the earliest known maps of the city. Sliwka examines what the painting reflects about Florentine society and spiritual beliefs, and sheds light on aspects of the painting—including its authorship, date, theological significance, and original location—that are frequently questioned.
Published by National Gallery Company/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:National Gallery, London
(11/04/15–02/14/16)
- ISBN10 1857095944
- ISBN13 9781857095944
- Publish Date 29 November 2015
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 4 March 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint National Gallery Company Ltd
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 112
- Language English