His real name was Domenico Bigordi. He was said to have been a pupil of Baldovinetti. As well as working in Florence he was also in Rome, San Gimignano and Pisa.
He ran an active studio and was partnered by his brother David. They specialised in extensive fresco cycles, such as those in Sta Maria Novella and Santa Trinita in Florence. The young Michelangelo was an apprentice with Ghirlandaio, whose son Ridolfo also became a painter.
Domenico Ghirlandaio
1449 - 1494
Paintings by Domenico Ghirlandaio
This scene shows Saints Clement and Justus coming to the aid of the citizens of Volterra – the town was under siege by the Vandals, a Germanic tribe. The people were starving until, in answer to the saints‘ prayers, the granaries were miraculously filled and it was finally possible to bake some b...
Not on display
Capturing the physical likeness of a sitter as well as their soul or character was crucial to Renaissance portraiture, and this was made easier with the introduction of the three-quarter view, as used here. It allows us to see more of the sitter’s face and so is more engaging than the previously...
Not on display
The Christ Child looks up at the Virgin Mary, raising the index finger of his right hand as though he is preaching, which refers to his divine authority. The Virgin’s cloak would have originally appeared more blue, but the pigment, azurite, has changed over time.The bold colours of the striped te...
Style of Domenico Ghirlandaio
The Latin inscription identifies this woman as Costanza de‘ Medici, the wife of an important Florentine citizen of the Caetani family. The portrait was clearly made to celebrate their marriage: she holds a sprig of orange blossom, which was associated with chastity and traditionally worn by brid...
Not on display
Workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio
The young girl, whose name is not known, is shown turned towards the viewer in a three-quarter pose. The view offers a more direct engagement with the sitter than was possible in more traditional profile view portraits.Though probably idealised as was common in portraits at this time – particular...
Not on display