Baronci Altarpiece

The Baronci Altarpiece is a stunning painting created by the renowned Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael for Andrea Baronci's chapel in the church of Sant'Agostino in Città di Castello, near Urbino. This commission, completed in 1501, marks Raphael's first recorded project. He collaborated on it with Evangelista da Pian di Meleto. The altarpiece features Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, accompanied by angels, God the Father, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Augustine.

Regrettably, the painting suffered severe damage during an earthquake in 1789, causing it to break into pieces. Pope Pius VI managed to acquire the remaining fragments for the Vatican's collection, where they remained until 1849. After that, the whereabouts of the fragments became uncertain. However, scholars have since identified six pieces, including parts of the main painting and two predellas, now housed in various collections.

An 18th-century copy of the altarpiece is displayed in the Pinacoteca Comunale in Città di Castello, providing insight into what the original work looked like. Preliminary sketches by Raphael are preserved in the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It is believed that Raphael designed the entire altar, with Evangelista da Pian di Meleto assisting in its creation. While Raphael likely painted the main altarpiece, the predellas are thought to be the work of Pian di Meleto.