The brothers took their name from their father's trade: Jacopo Benci sold poultry, and pollaiuolo means "poulterer" in Italian. There were only eight poultry suppliers in Florence in 1472 but forty-four goldsmith workshops, which is where the sons found their careers. Piero and his older brother Antonio worked side by side, in separate workshops within a shared building, for most of their lives.
Key facts
- Lived
- 1443–1496, Italian
- Movement
- Works held in
- 8 museums[1]
Biography
Piero was born around 1443 in Florence. He and Antonio produced some of the finest portraits of women in fifteenth-century Florence, with meticulously rendered dress and jewellery that reflects their goldsmithing background. The brothers also painted altarpieces and produced embroidery designs for the Florence Baptistery.
For centuries, Antonio received most of the credit for their shared output. Recent art-historical reassessment, led by Aldo Galli, has increased Piero's share. At least one brother was influenced by the landscape style of Early Netherlandish painting; the revisionist school thinks it was Piero, attributing to him a softer, more atmospheric quality than Antonio's harder line. Piero opened his own independent workshop around 1480.
The brothers later moved to Rome, where they produced papal tombs for Sixtus IV and Innocent VIII in St Peter's. Piero's Portrait of a Young Woman at the Met and the Uffizi's series of Virtues are among the works now more confidently attributed to him. He died in Rome around 1496.
Timeline
- 1443Born Piero Benci in Florence, the younger brother of Antonio del Pollaiuolo. Their surname derived from their father's poultry trade (pollaiuolo meaning "poulterer").
- 1460At about 17, trained in goldsmithing with his father and studied painting under Andrea del Castagno in Florence, sharing a studio with his brother Antonio.
- 1470At about 27, collaborated with his brother on a series of panels depicting the Virtues for the Merchants' Tribunal in Florence (now in the Uffizi).
- 1475At about 32, painted some of the most distinguished profile portraits of women in fifteenth-century Florence, now at the Metropolitan Museum and the Uffizi.
- 1484At about 41, moved to Rome with Antonio, where they were commissioned by Pope Innocent VIII to create the monumental bronze papal tomb in St Peter's Basilica.
- 1496Died around age 53 in Rome. Scholars have increasingly credited Piero with painting many works long attributed to his more celebrated elder brother.
Notable Works
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Where to See Piero del Pollaiuolo
1 museum worldwide.
-
1 works
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York City, United States
Related Artists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Piero del Pollaiuolo known for?
Piero del Pollaiuolo is known for producing some of the finest portraits of women in fifteenth-century Florence, with meticulously rendered dress and jewellery. He and his brother Antonio also painted altarpieces and produced embroidery designs for the Florence Baptistery.Who was Piero del Pollaiuolo?
Piero del Pollaiuolo was an Italian artist born around 1443 in Florence. He is known for his portraits and collaborative work with his brother Antonio, and he died in Rome around 1496.What was Piero del Pollaiuolo's art style?
Revisionist art historians believe Piero del Pollaiuolo's style had a softer, more atmospheric quality than his brother Antonio's harder line. At least one of the brothers was influenced by the style of Early Netherlandish painting.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Piero del Pollaiuolo.
- [1] museum Art Institute of Chicago Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Metropolitan Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
- [4] book Gardner, Helen, 1878-1946, Gardner's art through the ages Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [5] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [6] book E. H. Gombrich, The Story of Art - 16th Edition Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-05-31. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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