Gonfalon de San Francesco al prato
Benedetto Bonfigli·1464
Historical Context
Benedetto Bonfigli's Gonfalon of San Francesco al Prato, painted around 1464 for the Oratory of San Bernardino in Perugia, is a processional banner (gonfalone) created for public religious ceremonies. Bonfigli was the leading painter of fifteenth-century Perugia before the emergence of Perugino, and his gonfaloni were among the most important public artworks in the city, carried through the streets during religious processions and civic celebrations.
Technical Analysis
The double-sided banner format required careful compositional planning for viewing from both sides, with Bonfigli's characteristic bright coloring and clearly defined figures designed to be visible and legible at a distance during outdoor processions.
