Nuno Gonçalves


Nuno Gonçalves was a 15th-century Portuguese, who is believed to have been court painter for Kings Afonso V and John II. He is credited for the painting of the Saint Vincent Panels. The panels depict Portuguese royalty and two saints among with the main elements of Portuguese society in the 15th century: clergy, nobility and commoners.

Life

Very little is known of his life, neither his birth or death dates are known; but documents of the time seems to indicate that he was active between 1450 and 1490.
He is depicted, among several other historic figures, on the Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Belém, Lisbon.

Saint Vincent Panels

The only reference that art historians can use to support his authorship of the Saint Vincent Panels is by Francisco de Holanda, in the 16th century. It mentions a great work of art made by him that is inferred to be the Panels. It is also speculated that the father of Hugo van der Goes collaborated in the painting of the panel but there is no concrete proof. Since their discovery in late 19th century there has been great dispute over the identity of the painter and the characters shown in the Panels. Even the claim that Prince Henry the Navigator appears in the third panel is still under debate. Nevertheless, the "Saint Vincent Panels" is seen as the highest peak of Portuguese antique art.

List of Works

These paintings are the most usually attributed to the painter: