San Giovenale Triptych. Right panel. 1422

This is the right panel of the San Giovenale Triptych by Masaccio, created using tempera on wood. Immediately, our eyes are drawn to the contrasting figures set against the panel’s gold background: a bishop in luminous red robes, holding an open book, and an elderly man in dark garments, gripping a walking stick. Masaccio uses the interplay of light and shadow to create a sense of volume and depth. Notice the way the light defines the folds of the robes and the contours of the faces. This use of light is more than descriptive; it's a technique for creating a palpable sense of the figures' presence. The composition, however, challenges established meanings by positioning the figures in a flattened space. This technique creates an interesting tension between the realistic depiction of the figures and the abstract background, destabilizing our sense of depth. The very structure of this panel prompts us to consider how Masaccio is pushing against the conventional visual language of his time, inviting us to reconsider the relationship between representation and reality. Art, here, is not merely imitation, but an active site of inquiry and re-evaluation.