Paradise
1445
Giovanni di Paolo packed this heavenly garden with so many figures it looks like the ultimate Renaissance block party. Painted in 1445, this panel shows saints, angels, and blessed souls mingling among orange trees and flowers, rendered in the International Gothic style with its love for intricate detail and bright, jewel-like colors. Notice the charmingly flat perspective and the way everyone seems to be floating on a carpet of grass rather than standing on solid ground—a hallmark of Gothic art before the rules of realism took over. It’s a joyful, crowded vision of the afterlife where everyone gets a front-row seat to eternity.
Location: National Gallery, London
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