Sandro Botticelli
St. Augustine

Date:

1480

152 X 112 cm

Florence, Ognissanti

Saint Augustine

The Saint Augustine painting was Botticelli’s first major fresco. It was commissioned by the Medici family in 1480. The painting of Saint Augustine was set in the Church of the Ognissanti, in France. It was painted in the choir area of the church. On the opposite side of the choir area was another painting; St Augustine in his Study done by Domernico Ghirlandaio. This painting was commissioned by the Vespucci family. Botticelli spent a great deal of time working on this painting wanting to rise above any other painter in his time.

Botticelli was pleased with the outcome of his work. He showed Saint Augustine’s expression of one that is deep in thought resembling people in that time who put a great amount of consideration into their work. Saint Augustine also represents a conflict that occurred during the Renaissance period. The complex question was did intellectual knowledge of God lead to understanding Him, or did a person need to experience a mystic revelation from God to understand Christianity? In this picture, Saint Augustine is surrounded by books and intellectual tools, yet is looking up trying to receive light from a spiritual vision from God. He clearly wants to understand and is trying to find answers.