St. Augustine Departing for Milan 1465

This fresco, St. Augustine Departing for Milan, was painted by Benozzo Gozzoli, in the mid-15th century, for the Church of Sant'Agostino. The painting is a window into the early Renaissance and its cultural values. Gozzoli's representation of St. Augustine is less about religious asceticism and more about worldly authority. We see a procession of figures, richly dressed, their garments speaking to the rising merchant class that was beginning to gain prominence in Italian city-states. The artist’s decision to situate St. Augustine within such a contemporary, secular scene departs from traditional, otherworldly depictions of saints. There is an emphasis on earthly power, civic pride, and the aesthetics of wealth. The inscription above reminds us that this work was commissioned. In this context, the painting transcends its spiritual subject matter, offering insights into the complex interplay between religious devotion, economic power, and social identity in Renaissance Italy.