Agnolo degli Erri Paintings

Agnolo degli Erri, an Italian painter, was active during the Quattrocento, the cultural period of the 15th-century Italian Renaissance. He was part of the Erri family of artists that included his brother Bartolomeo and possibly a third brother, Polidoro. The Erri family, specifically Agnolo and Bartolomeo, worked in Modena and were contemporaries of the more famous Tura and Cossa in the nearby Ferrara.

Agnolo's exact birth and death dates are not well-documented, with estimates placing his birth around 1410 and his death around 1469. Agnolo and his brother Bartolomeo were among the most significant artists in Modena during their time. Their work is characterized by a strong influence from the Ferrarese school, and they were known for their religious paintings, often created for local churches and confraternities.

Agnolo was also influenced by the art of the Renaissance that was flourishing in Florence and other Italian city-states. However, the Modenese school maintained a distinctive style that was less influenced by the naturalistic and humanistic trends seen in Florentine art. The Erri brothers' work is noted for its gothic elements, reflecting a transitional phase in Italian art from medieval to Renaissance styles.

One of the most significant contributions of Agnolo degli Erri was his part in the completion of the predella for the altarpiece of the Geminianus Chapel in the cathedral of Modena, a work that was started by Serafino de' Serafini and later passed on to the Erri workshop due to Serafino's death. The predella depicts scenes from the life of Saint Geminianus and showcases the narrative skill and detailed craftsmanship for which Agnolo was known.

Despite his contributions to the art of the period, Agnolo degli Erri's work has been somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries in other Italian art centers. Nevertheless, he remains an important figure in the context of the Modenese Renaissance and the broader artistic developments of 15th-century Italy.