Polyptych of Ognissanti
Giovanni da Milano·1360
Historical Context
Giovanni da Milano created this Polyptych of Ognissanti around 1360 for the church of Ognissanti (All Saints) in Florence, one of the most important Franciscan churches in the city that also housed Giotto's celebrated Maestà. The commission for such a prestigious location testifies to Giovanni's high standing in Florence despite his Lombard origins. Now in the Uffizi Gallery, this large multi-paneled altarpiece is among the most ambitious surviving works by this master, showing his refined synthesis of Lombard and Florentine artistic traditions.
Technical Analysis
The polyptych presents multiple saints in separate Gothic-arched compartments arranged around a central Madonna and Child, all set against tooled gold grounds. Giovanni da Milano's technique combines the firm structural drawing of the Florentine school with his distinctive Lombard softness of modeling and atmospheric tonality, creating figures of unusual psychological depth.
