Polyptych of the Misericordia

work by Piero della Francesca

Also known as: “Madonna della Misericordia”

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July 2, 2026

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The Polyptych of the Misericordia is an altarpiece created by the Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca. Commissioned in 1445 by the Confraternita della Misericordia in Sansepolcro, it was a significant work that took Piero a considerable time to complete, not finishing until 1462.1

This polyptych exemplifies Piero's early style, showing influences from Florentine masters like Masaccio and Donatello. It demonstrates his developing interest in geometric forms and his characteristic slow, deliberate working method. The altarpiece is a testament to the artistic innovations of the Early Renaissance in Italy, blending traditional religious themes with a new emphasis on clarity, form, and spatial representation.12

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Piero della Francesca
Formative period
The Misericordia Altarpiece shows Piero’s indebtedness to the Florentines Donatello and Masaccio, his fondness for geometric form, and the slowness and deliberation with which he habitually worked—for the Misericordia altarpiece was not completed until 1462.
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The Misericordia Altarpiece shows Piero’s indebtedness to the Florentines Donatello and Masaccio, his fondness for geometric form, and the slowness and deliberation with which he habitually worked—for the Misericordia altarpiece was not completed until 1462.
Read More