Domenico Ghirlandaio, 'A Legend of Saints Justus and Clement of Volterra', probably 1479

Ghirlandaio’s picture, of which No. 2902 has been identified as one predella panel, was the high-altarpiece of S. Giusto alle Mura, outside the walls of Florence. This church belonged to the Gesuati of S. Jerome, and was destroyed in preparation for the siege of Florence in 1529. In 1531, these Gesuati were given another church in Florence, which had previously been named S. Niccolò or S. Giovannino, but became more usually known as S. Giusto della Calza; the Ghirlandaio was set up as its high-altarpiece. The Order of the Gesuati of S. Jerome was suppressed in 1668. S. Giusto della Calza was raised to the status of an abbey, and in 1671 was given in commendam to Cardinal Camillo de’ Massimi. He sold it in 1672 to the representatives of the Casa del Rifugio, who sold it in 1675 to the Reformed Franciscans of Fiesole, who sold it in 1680 to the Congregation of Priests of S. Salvadore all’Arcivescovado; the dedication of the church was then changed to S. Giovanni Battista. Ghirlandaio’s high-altarpiece remained in position in spite of these incidents. It is recorded by Richa, with its predella, in 1761. It is recorded, with the predella described in much the same terms, in some guides to Florence of the nineteenth century; but they continued to repeat information, even when it had become untrue. By 1828, the predella had been detached from the picture, and belonged to Metzger at Florence. No. 2902 is next known to be recorded in the Gentleman from Blackheath Sale, London, 20 June, 1874 (lot 26), with a companion, no description of subject, as by Pintoricchio, bought by Waters; the owner was apparently W. Angerstein or W. J. Farrer, and the pictures are claimed to have been in the Rogers Collection. Lady Lindsay Bequest, 1912.