Who was he?, a photo from Florence, Tuscany

Photographer's Note

Three faces: the central face is attention-getting and looks a bit like Lorenzo de' Medici, but it cannot be - when this was painted in 1427, Lorenzo was not even born.
Why has one face been obliterated? Who is he?
Could it be Felice Brancacci, the silk merchant who commissioned the frescoes in the chapel owned by his family?
In 1431 Brancacci married a girl from the Strozzi family; two years later, the Strozzis drove Cosimo de' Medici's family out of town; but the next year they returned and took their revenge, expelling all those connected with the Strozzis as enemies of the Republic. Hm, some Republic!
Blood feuds have been around for a long time...

nobuikehonda, yanastallerova, batalay, rigoletto ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

nobuikehonda (3848) 2012-03-07 7:29

Hello Dear Sara!

This is a highly scholastic entry on TE. The depicted scene is from the same fresco “Raising the Son of Theophilus and St. Peter Enthroned” You have already showed us two parts far from the right side, far from the left side, and now we come to observed the very heart of the fresco, the central region. I wish that I could know much more about all figures represented in the scene. These three men presented must hold primary importance as they stand so close to the son of Theophilus who has just been resurrected by St. Peter. (Am I right?) The mystery involved in the representation is very intriguing. I appreciate the nature of your note, which seems to involve yourself having a private conversation with all the figures presented here. A face, which has been obliterated as you have pointed out, draws particular interest. I also like very much to have my version of private conversations with historical figures. Our emotions and logical thoughts, whether now or then, or in spite of all the differences which exists in cultural context, there seems to be a consistency, is it all about being a human being?

With my very best and kind regards,
I hope that you are passing a relaxed moment, Sara
Nobu.

[2] +

batalay (41261) 2012-03-08 9:49

Hello Sara,

An excellent note informs this detail from the mural. The sabotage of a single face selectively has to be done by a very angry individual. It is surprising that almost 600 years, however, the mural has not been restored, although it has been cleaned. Good note, complemented by Nobu's comment.

Warm regards,

Bulent

rigoletto (34279) 2013-06-17 17:32

hi sara,
i was in the brancacci chapel in 2004 and it was one of the most mesmerizing experiences i had in florence together with gozzoli's magi chapel in palazzo medici riccardi. of course, brancacci chapel is outstanding with the revolutionarily expressive figures of "expulsion from the garden of heaven", yet "raising of the son" part is also very interesting, raising those "who is who" questions and watering the mouths of conspiracy lovers :)
well, masaccio's work was further continued by filippino lippi, he repaired some destroyed parts (due to medici rivals existing in the murals) and finished some unfinished parts. the faces may have been altered by then, even adding some medici faces after their coming to power.
i haven't heard of any carbon analyzing or x-ray studies trying to date each face or seeing what is hidden beneath the visible pictures. that face in the middle could be lorenzo, imho.
deniz