Artwork
God the Father with Four Angels and the Dove of the Holy Spirit
God the Father with Four Angels and the Dove of the Holy Spirit is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Giovanni Francesco da Rimini. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1460 by the mid‑15th‑century Italian painter Giovanni Francesco da Rimini, this panel presents a devotional image of God the Father surrounded by four angels and the Holy Spirit represented as a dove. The work belongs to the early Renaissance and is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre, a bearded God the Father raises his right hand in a benediction, clothed in a red robe with a blue mantle draped over his left shoulder. Four angels encircle him, each rendered with individualized features, while a dove hovers above, signifying the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Technique & Style
The composition emphasizes facial expression and gesture, employing a balanced arrangement that guides the eye toward the central figure. Da Rimini’s palette of rich reds, blues and whites, together with subtle modeling, creates a modest sense of spatial depth characteristic of early Renaissance painting.
History & Provenance
Originally ascribed to the anonymous “Master of the Scenes from the Life of the Virgin,” scholarly reassessment has re‑attributed the panel to da Rimini, aligning it with other documented works by the artist. It entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco da Rimini (1420–1469), was an Italian painter. The artist was previously only known as the Master of the Scenes from the Life of the Virgin, until the works were properly attributed.
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