Augustinian Saint 1460

This is Piero della Francesca’s “Augustinian Saint”, whereabouts unknown, from the Early Renaissance. Born in the small town of Sansepolcro, now Tuscany, the artist's deep understanding of geometry and perspective shaped the visual language of the early Renaissance. The painting presents an Augustinian Saint in traditional monastic garb, holding a book. In Renaissance Italy, the Church held immense power, influencing nearly every aspect of life. A piece like this would have reinforced not only the religious devotion, but also the Church's intellectual authority, symbolized here by the book held by the saint. The work reflects the cultural and religious values of its time, but I invite you to reflect on who is included and excluded from its narrative. The saint’s identity and the story the portrait tells prompts questions about faith, knowledge, and power at the time. It also prompts questions about the complex relationship between art, religion, and society.