Pier Francesco Fiorentino


Pier Francesco Fiorentino was a 15th-century painter active in San Gimignano for much of his mature life, depicting religious-themed subjects.

Biography

Fiorentino, the son of the Florentine painter Bartolomeo di Donato, was born in Florence and received his first art education in his father's workshop. At age 25 he was ordained as a priest. He joined in the circle of painter Benozzo Gozzoli, and worked with him in San Gimignano and Certaldo during the 1460s.

Works

An altarpiece in the Gallery at Empoli dates from about 1474. In 1475 he worked together with Domenico Ghirlandaio on the decoration of the nave of the Duomo of San Gimignano. In that same year he painted an Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints Matthew the Apostle, William hermit, Barbara and Sebastiano for the Chapel of St William in the Collegiata of Empoli; the work is now exhibited in the Museum adjoining the church. He signed a Madonna and Saints in Sant'Agostino Church, San Gimignano and a Tobias and the Angels.