The Battle of San Romano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of San Romano is a triptych by the painter Paolo Uccello depicting events that took place at the battle of San Romano in 1432. It consists of the three paintings

Niccolò Mauruzi da Tolentino at the Battle of San Romano (probably about 1438-1440), egg tempera with walnut oil and linseed oil on poplar, 181.6 x 320 cm, National Gallery, London.

Niccolò Mauruzi da Tolentino at the Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello (National Gallery, London)

Niccolò Mauruzi da Tolentino unseats Bernardino della Ciarda at the Battle of San Romano (dating uncertain, about 1435 to 1455), tempera on wood, 182 x 220 cm, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
The Counterattack of Michelotto da Cotignola at the Battle of San Romano (about 1455), wood panel, 182 x 317 cm, Musée du Louvre, Paris

The 180 x 220 cm panel used to be the central painting of the triptych and is the only one signed by the artist. In this painting, Niccolò da Tolentino, with his large gold and red patterned hat, is seen leading the Florentine cavalry. In the foreground, broken lances and a dead soldier are carefully aligned, so as to create an impression of perspective.

According to the webpage of the National Gallery, London, the three panels were commissioned by the Bartolini Salimbeni family but so coveted by Lorenzo de' Medici that he had them forcibly removed to the Medici palace at Florence. The Musée de Louvre webpage claims that the triptych was painted for the palace of Cosimo de' Medici at Florence. The webpage of the Galleria degli Uffizi only states that the triptych belonged to Lorenzo de' Medici and was listed in the inventory of his room on the groundfloor of the Medici palace at Florence.