Bitter Rivals make Great Art

Patronage studies are an important part of modern
Italian Rnaissance art history. This book looks at
how and why the Sassetti Chapel in Santa Trinitá was
made. What induced the patron to have it decorated,
why did he choose the particular church and why as
his chosen painter did he choose Domenico
Ghirlandaio. The patrons interest in promoting his
image both on earth and in heaven are important
factors in any Renaissance patronage study none more
so given the bitter rivalry for the favour of
Lorenzo de Medici between Francesco Sassetti and his
banking rival Giovanni Tornabuoni. These two
conducted and extensive campaign for the right to
have decorated the main chapel in Santa Maria
Novella. Sassetti having failed in his bid, not
least as he wanted his chapel dedicated to his name
saint then had Ghirlandaio create one of the great
Florentine fresco cycles.