description Portinari Altarpiece Overview
The Portinari Altarpiece is a large triptych painted by Hugo van der Goes for Tommaso Portinari, a Florentine representative of the Medici bank in Bruges. Its central panel depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds, while the wings show members of the Portinari family with their patron saints. Installed in Florence after its arrival from the Low Countries, its monumental figures, detailed surfaces, and oil technique attracted the attention of Italian painters.
help Portinari Altarpiece FAQ
Why are the flowers in the Portinari Altarpiece so prominent?
Hugo van der Goes painted irises, lilies, columbines, and other plants with intense naturalistic detail. Many also carry Christian meanings connected with the Virgin, Christ's Passion, humility, or sorrow.
Who commissioned the Portinari Altarpiece?
Tommaso Portinari, a Florentine representative of the Medici bank in Bruges, commissioned the triptych. He and members of his family appear on the wings beside their patron saints.
How did the Portinari Altarpiece affect Florentine painting?
Its arrival in Florence exposed Italian artists to the rich oil color and microscopic detail of Netherlandish painting. Domenico Ghirlandaio's Adoration of the Shepherds is frequently discussed as a response to Hugo's composition.
Where can the Portinari Altarpiece be seen now?
The triptych is displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. It was originally intended for the church of Sant'Egidio at the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova.
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