Artwork
Set of three panels: The Pietà, Saint Apollonia and Saint Peter
Set of three panels: The Pietà, Saint Apollonia and Saint Peter is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Maso da San Friano. It dates from 1561 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Around 1561 the Florentine painter Maso da San Friano, born Tomaso D'Antonio Manzuoli, completed a trio of small altarpieces titled The Pietà, Saint Apollonia and Saint Peter. Executed in the Mannerist style, the panels present three distinct religious subjects and are now part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The central panel, The Pietà, shows the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ, surrounded by mourners whose gestures convey profound grief. The adjacent panels portray Saint Apollonia, patron of dentistry, and Saint Peter, the apostle, each rendered with attributes that identify their respective identities and underscore themes of suffering and redemption.
Technique & Style
Maso employs a restrained palette of earthy hues, allowing the muted colors to accentuate the emotional intensity of the scene. Subtle chiaroscuro models the figures, giving them a three‑dimensional presence against a calm landscape of rolling hills and a distant cityscape, a hallmark of late‑Renaissance Mannerist composition.
History & Provenance
The three panels were likely created for a private devotional setting in Florence before entering the art market in the 19th century. They were acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland, where they have been displayed as part of the museum’s Italian Renaissance holdings.
Context
Maso da San Friano worked during a period when Florentine artists were exploring elongated forms and complex emotional narratives characteristic of Mannerism. The Pietà panel reflects contemporary interest in intimate, personal representations of biblical sorrow, while the saintly panels echo the era’s emphasis on individual exemplars of faith.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maso da San Friano (1536–1571) was an Italian painter active in Florence. His real name was Tomaso D'Antonio Manzuoli. He was born in San Friano and died in Florence.
