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Student Artwork Guide

Triptych

Name Class Date

Mariotto Albertinelli, Triptych. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Mariotto Albertinelli wahooart.com/en/artists/mariotto-albertinelli/
Artist’s dates
1474 – 1515

In context

Triptych — Mariotto Albertinelli

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1470
  2. 1480
  3. 1490
  4. 1500
  5. 1510

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 41 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Mariotto Albertinelli (1474–1515) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1503 Main working years: 1503–1506 Late works: from 1506

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

  • Visitation, 1503 wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-visitation-8XZ8SA-en/
  • The Annunciation wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-the-annunciation-D3KFJ2-en/
  • Triptych, 1500 wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-D4K6Z7-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #1e1816

    Catalogued palette

    • #1E1816
    • #9F8D81
    • #735846
    • #4F3525

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Mariotto Albertinelli over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 88.9%800 visits
    2. 2 India 11.1%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 8 most looked-at works by Mariotto Albertinelli

    1. 1 Birth of Christ, 1503 22.2%200 visits
    2. 2 Annunciation, 1503 22.2%200 visits
    3. 3 Triptych, 1500 11.1%100 visits
    4. 4 Adoration of the Child with Angel, 1497 11.1%100 visits
    5. 5 Virgin and Child, 1512 11.1%100 visits
    6. 6 Madonna and child, saints and donor 11.1%100 visits
    7. 7 The Temptation of Adam and Eve. 11.1%100 visits
    8. — Triptych this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 16 works by this artist, of which 7 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Mariotto Albertinelli

    Born in Florence, Italy

    Mariotto Albertinelli: A Florentine Renaissance Painter

    Born: Florence, Italy (1474)

    Died: 1515

    Early Life and Training

    Mariotto di Bigio di Bindo Albertinelli was born in Florence as the son of a gold beater. He was an only child, and his mother died when he was just five years old. Initially trained as a gold beater until the age of 12, he then became a pupil of Cosimo Rosselli, sharing studies with Fra Bartolomeo. The close friendship between Albertinelli and Fra Bartolomeo led them to establish a joint studio in Florence by 1494.

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Albertinelli’s style demonstrates the influence of several prominent artists including Perugino, Piero di Cosimo, Lorenzo di Credi, and Flemish painters. His early works, produced independently of Fra Bartolomeo, are stylistically distinct and reveal a sophisticated taste for detail. Piero di Cosimo introduced him to Flemish techniques, enriching his artistic palette. A period of independence followed Fra Bartolomeo’s entry into the Dominican order in 1500, allowing Albertinelli to develop his own voice while still maintaining a connection to his former mentor's style.

    Major Works and Collaborations

    The Visitation (1503): Housed in the Uffizi Gallery, this is considered Albertinelli’s masterpiece. It depicts the biblical story of Elizabeth visiting Mary, showcasing his skill in composition, narrative depiction, and blending influences from Fra Bartolomeo and Perugino.

    Altarpiece for the Chapel of Congregazione di San Martino: This altarpiece includes panels depicting the Visitation, Annunciation, Nativity, and Circumcision. It demonstrates Albertinelli's ability to create a cohesive narrative across multiple panels.

    Kress Tondo: Initially attributed solely to Fra Bartolomeo, it is now believed that Albertinelli used his partner’s cartoon in its creation, highlighting their collaborative relationship.

    Annunciation (1511): A joint work with Fra Bartolomeo, showcasing a period of stylistic convergence and collaboration.

    Historical Significance and Legacy

    Albertinelli's artistic career reflects the dynamic shifts within Florentine painting during the High Renaissance. His ability to synthesize diverse influences—Perugino’s grace, Flemish detail, and Leonardo’s sfumato technique—created a unique style that contributed to the richness of Florentine art. He trained notable artists such as Jacopo da Pontormo, Innocenzo di Pietro Francucci da Imola, and Giuliano Bugiardini, ensuring his influence extended beyond his own works. Despite facing financial difficulties later in life, Albertinelli left behind a body of work that demonstrates his skill and artistic versatility, solidifying his place within the Florentine Renaissance.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Triptych

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Albertinelli, Mariotto. Triptych. n.d., https://wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/
    APA
    Albertinelli, Mariotto (n.d.). Triptych [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/
    Chicago
    Mariotto Albertinelli. Triptych. n.d. https://wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/
    Harvard
    Albertinelli, Mariotto (n.d.) Triptych. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/mariotto-albertinelli-triptych-A2A9HV-en/

    Look closely

    Triptych — Mariotto Albertinelli

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: arts. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Visitation (1503), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What color harmony does "Triptych" by Mariotto Albertinelli display?

    "Triptych" by Mariotto Albertinelli displays a unified palette color harmony.

    Who created "Triptych"?

    The artist behind "Triptych" is Mariotto Albertinelli. The work is catalogued under Mariotto Albertinelli's name.

    Who sells hand-painted copies of "Triptych" by Mariotto Albertinelli?

    You can order a hand-painted reproduction of "Triptych" by Mariotto Albertinelli directly on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, made to order.