Altarpieces and Contracts: The Marble High Altarpiece for S. Francesco, Bologna (1388-1392)

Legal documents relating to the commission for the marble high altarpiece for the church of S. Francesco in Bologna, Italy, realized by Venetian sculptors Pierpaolo and Jacobello dalle Masegne between 1388 and 1392, offer detailed insight into the procedure of the commissioning process. The writer outlines the contents of these documents, explores their implications for altarpiece studies, and outlines the nature of complaints by the patrons. She also considers some aspects not addressed in the legal documents, such as the reasons behind the selection of particular images and the motivations of the patron.