Pesellino: Master Painter of Renaissance Florence,” by Nathaniel Silver, The Frick Collection

• Art/Photo

Between 1440 and 1457 Francesco Pesellino painted for the Medici family and Pope Nicholas V, quickly earning himself a remarkable reputation in Florence. He died young, however, leaving behind few documented works. Rediscovered at the turn of the twentieth century and championed by connoisseurs such as Bernard Berenson, his jewel-like paintings fetched exceptional prices, including a record-breaking £10,000 in 1896 for his masterpiece, the Battle and Triumph of David (1452–55). This lecture will explore Pesellino’s fascinating career and problematic rediscovery, revealing his pioneering role in the development of spalliera paintings, a new genre of Renaissance art.