Pala Nerli

Finding humor in religious art is perhaps an idiosyncratic trait. However, sometimes in Florence one can be both inspired by the beauty of a work of art and amused by its details. For example, today in the Basilica of Santo Spirito (a creation of Brunelleschi) I was admiring the following oil painting (internet photo copy) by Filippino Lippi.

It is called the Pala Nerli and was painted around the time Columbus was sailing the Atlantic. A longer title is Madonna and Child between Saints Martin of Tours and Catherine of Alexandria and the Patrons. I suspect the original has been restored, as it is vividly colorful and stands out among the masterpieces of Santo Spirito, along with a precious crucifix by Michelangelo.
The little one below the Madonna and Child is undoubtedly a young John the Baptist. Standing on one side is Saint Martin of Tours, and on the other Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
So, who might be the two individuals in black kneeling in the lower corners? Why, they are the patrons, Tanai and Nanna de' Nerli. As Tanai funded Lippi's sacred work, one can perhaps understand a desire to appear in it, although it seems almost presumptuous that Tanai would be brought forward by the hand of Saint Martin and Nanna would be personally introduced by Saint Catherine.
In any event, we now have a scene from the beginning of the First Century, with two saints from the early Fourth Century, along with a patron and his spouse from the late Fifteenth Century. Much in Florence does seem to transcend time. Also, the arched gate in the background of the painting is of interest, as I walked under it just the other day, in the San Frediano section of Florence, close to where the Nerli's used to live, over five hundred years ago.
In fairness, the Nerli's were probably very devout, and the inclusion of family members in art works was fairly commonplace during the Renaissance. Today's visitors to Santo Spirito can still be spiritually inspired by Lippi's masterpiece, even with the Nerli's being right there.
Ciao.