Two Evangelists - Gherardo Starnina

A refined tempera panel by Gherardo Starnina, showcasing the elegant drapery and gold-leaf techniques of the International Gothic period.

This panel, attributed to the Florentine painter Gherardo Starnina, represents the stylistic transition between the late Trecento and the early Renaissance. Starnina, who spent time in Spain, absorbed the International Gothic style, which is evident in the fluid treatment of drapery and the refined, elongated proportions of the figure. The work displays the characteristic use of a gold-leaf ground, a technique common in devotional panels of the period to suggest a celestial space removed from the terrestrial realm.

The figure is depicted with a sense of gravity and quiet contemplation. The artist employs a sophisticated colour palette, contrasting the deep blue of the undergarment with the warm, ochre tones of the mantle. The folds of the fabric are rendered with precision, creating a sense of volume that moves away from the flatter, more schematic representations of earlier decades. The halo, incised into the gold ground, features delicate punch work, a hallmark of high-quality craftsmanship in early 15th-century Italian workshops.

Starnina was a significant figure in the development of Florentine painting, acting as a bridge between the tradition of Giotto and the innovations of the next generation, including Masolino and Masaccio. His ability to combine decorative elegance with a growing interest in human anatomy and psychological presence makes this piece a representative example of his output. The panel was likely part of a larger polyptych, intended for a church or private chapel, where it would have functioned as an object of veneration. The preservation of the original gilding allows for an appreciation of the light-reflective qualities intended by the artist, which would have shimmered under the flickering candlelight of a medieval interior.