Renaissance Sienna: art for a city

A well constructed exhibition at the National Gallery of the art of Sienna in the Renaissance period covering the 100 years from the canonisation of Saint Bernardino to the entry of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V in 1536.

I thought I knew the art of Sienna well but realise it’s the earlier period I know, Duccio and the good and bad government frescos, I did not really know what came next and this was therefore a fascinating insight of how these earlier works influenced later generations.

I loved Francesco de Giorgio’s covers for the cities account books in the first room including miniature pictures of the city complete with its blank and white stripped cathedral tower.

However the highlights of the show were the works which had been brought together from different collections for the first time in 100 or more years. They included Matteo di Giovanni’s Assumption altarpiece brought together for the first time since its discovery in 1800 and works from Pandolfo Pettrucci’s chamber including paintings, tiles and pilasters.

My favourite work was a side panel from an altar piece by Lucca Signorelli showing two youths dressing by a river. Based on classical poses including the boy with a thorn in his foot, these are beautiful renaissance studies of form. The back view of the man on the left is just stunning!

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