Gherardo Starnina - Two Evangelists, painting, Rijksmuseum

Gherardo Starnina was an Italian painter born in Florence around 1360. He was a pupil of the famous painter Lorenzo Monaco and was strongly influenced by the art of the Sienese school. Starnina worked mainly in Florence and was known for his religious paintings, altarpieces and frescoes. One of Starnina's most famous works is the altarpiece he painted for the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Florence. The altarpiece depicts the Madonna and Child surrounded by saints and angels and is considered one of Starnina's masterpieces. Starnina also worked on frescoes in the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence depicting scenes from the life of St Zenobius. These frescoes were unfortunately destroyed in the 16th century. Starnina's style was characterised by his use of bright colours and his attention to detail. He was known for his ability to create lifelike figures that were both expressive and emotive. Gherardo Starnina died in Florence in 1413, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most important painters of the early Renaissance.