Gonçalves, Nuño

Gonçalves, Nuño (active 1450-71). Portuguese painter, recorded in 1463 as court painter to Alfonso V (1437-81). No works certainly by his hand survive, but there is a strong circumstantial evidence that he was responsible for the St Vincent polyptych (Lisbon Museum, c.1460-70), the outstanding Portuguese painting of the 15th century. The style is rather dry, but powerfully realistic, and the polyptych contains a superb gallery of highly individualized portraits of members of the court, including a presumed self-portrait. There are affinities with contemporary Burgundian and Flemish art, especially the work of Bouts.

Altarpiece of Saint Vincent, detail of the "Archbishop panel"
1495 (70 Kb); Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga at Lisbon