Double Portrait: Towards the History of Early Portuguese Painting

Abstract

The article examines a masterpiece of early Portuguese painting, the polyptych of Nuno Gonçalves, a 15th-century artist. The preserved part of the polyptych consists of several wooden panels with images of Saint Vicente, Lisbon's patron saint. Created during the Proto-Renaissance, the artwork aims to glorify the Age of Discovery, when the Portuguese were striving to build a new world empire. Gonçalves achieves remarkable skill in creating individual portraits, which positions him as a pioneer of early Portuguese portrait painting. His works serve as a testimony to the history of Portugal, its state and ethno-social structure. The artist's talent is revealed in his innovative desire to realistically portray people belonging to different social classes and corporations, and in his striving to reflect their psychological depth rather than simply catch the physical appearance. At the same time, Gonsalves' art is rich is symbolism, both offering insights into material culture subjects (clothes, costumes, weapons, books) and symbolically and emblematically outlining a deeper understanding of existence and genuine motives behind human actions.

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