Nuno Gonçalves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nuno Gonçalves
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| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Known for | Renaissance art |
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Notable work
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Saint Vincent Panels |
| Movement | Portuguese Renaissance |
| Patron(s) | Afonso V of Portugal |
Nuno Gonçalves (born around 1425 – died around 1491) was a famous Portuguese artist. He is known for starting the Portuguese Renaissance in painting.
He worked as the official painter for Afonso V of Portugal, the king, from 1450 to 1471. In 1471, he also became the official painter for the city of Lisbon. His most important work that we still have today is a large painting called the Saint Vincent Panels.
Nuno Gonçalves's Life
We don't know much about Nuno Gonçalves's life. He was an active painter between 1450 and 1472. In 1450, King Afonso V made him his court painter, which meant he painted for the king. The king even made him a knight in 1470 because of his great work.
Even though we don't know many details about him now, Nuno Gonçalves was very famous in his time. Francisco de Holanda, an artist and historian from the 1500s, said Gonçalves was one of the best painters of his era.
Today, the only painting we are sure he made is the Saint Vincent Panels. King Afonso V gave this painting to the Cathedral of Lisbon to celebrate his victories in Morocco. Some other paintings might have been made by Gonçalves because they look similar in style. Other works, like the Flagellation of Christ, were mentioned in history but are now lost. He might have also drawn the pictures for the Pastrana Tapestries.
We don't know where Nuno Gonçalves learned to paint. His style was different from earlier Portuguese art. Some people compare his work to early Italian fresco painters or even the Dutch artist Jan van Eyck, who visited Portugal around 1428.
You can see a statue of Nuno Gonçalves on the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. This is a monument in Belém, Lisbon that celebrates Portugal's Age of Discovery.
The Saint Vincent Panels
The only real proof that Nuno Gonçalves painted the Saint Vincent Panels comes from Francisco de Holanda. He wrote about a great artwork by Gonçalves in the 1500s, which people believe was these panels. Some also think that the father of Hugo van der Goes helped paint them, but there is no strong evidence.
Since the panels were found in the late 1800s, there has been a lot of discussion. People argue about who painted them and who the people in the paintings are. Even if Prince Henry the Navigator is shown in the third panel is still debated. Despite these questions, the Saint Vincent Panels are seen as the best example of old Portuguese art.
Famous Works
These are the paintings most often believed to be by Nuno Gonçalves:
- Saint Vincent Panels, painted around 1470–1480. You can see it at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
- São Paulo, also at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
- São Francisco, at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
- Saint Vincent Tied to a Column, at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
- São Teotónio, at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
- São Pedro, at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.
See also
In Spanish: Nuno Gonçalves para niños
- Portuguese Renaissance
Images for kids
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The Saint Vincent Panels, a famous work of art.
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Saint Paul, a painting believed to be by Nuno Gonçalves.
