Renaissance Siena: Art for a City : International Art Treasures Web Magazine IATWM October 2007

Renaissance Siena

Dream of St Jerome by Matteo di Giovanni Renaissance Siena Art for a City at London's National Gallery of Art
Title: The Dream of St Jerome,
Artist: Matteo di Giovanni (Italian about 1428–1495)
Permanent Collection: © The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois.
Mr and Mrs Martin A. Ryerson Collection (1933.1018)
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

Art for a City
National Gallery of Art, London
October 24, 2007 - January 13, 2008

How does one follow Michelangelo? Raphael? Titian? The simple answer is, when the quality is that high, the ones that come after no matter how hard they try they barely come close to the achievements of the Renaissance masters.

The painting produced in Medieval Sienna is, however, highly celebrated. Far less known is the artists and their oeuvre created in the latter part of the 15th and early part of the 16th Century. This was the time when the High Renaissance had passed and seeking to equal the mark left by it's Italian masters was an impossible dream.

Graceful figures, accuracy of period costume and rending an earnestness of feeling were all found in the Sienese artists such as Matteo di Giovanni.

London's National Gallery has organized an exhibit to examine specific aspects of Sienese art that were very deliberately shaped and sustained in order to create an artistic language for the Italian city that would reflect its identify. Renaissance Siena: Art for a City begins with the introduction of the city itself, its image and its saints.

Matteo di Giovanni

Assumption of the Virgin by Matteo di Giovanni Renaissance Siena Art for a City at London's National Gallery of Art
Title: The Assumption of the Virgin, probably 1474
Artist: Matteo di Giovanni (Italian about 1428–1495)
Permanent Collection:© The National Gallery, London (NG1155)
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

One significant highlight will be Matteo di Giovanni's great 'Assumption' altarpiece from the Siena-ruled town of Asciano. The centre of this altarpiece, part of the National Gallery Collection, will be reunited for the first time with all the other surviving parts.

Domenico Beccafumi

Domenico Beccafumi is believed to be the best of the Sienese Mannerist artists. That group tried to emulate the high Renaissance masters da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, but didn't have the same level of talent, leading to good, albeit in comparison, poorer quality art works. The shoes were simply too large to fill but many tried and some, like Beccafumi, were far better than others at the nearly impossible task. Beccafumi's work has an air of fantasy and is noted for his striking use of light to affect. Towards the end of his life he began to experiment successfully with sculpture and created eight bronze angels for the Siena Cathedral.

Tanaquil by Domenico Beccafumi Renaissance Siena Art for a City at London's National Gallery of Art
Title: Tanaquil, probably about 1520–5
Artist: Domenico Beccafumi (Italian about 1507–1551)
Medium: Oil on Wood
Dimensions: 92.1 x 53.3 cm
Permanent Collection: © The National Gallery, London (NG6368)
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

Francesco di Giorgio

Title: The Virgin Mary protects Siena from the Earthquakes, 1467–8
Artist: Francesco di Giorgio (Italian 1439–1501)
Permanent Collection: © Archivio di Stato, Siena (34).
Photo Lensini Siena
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

Francesco di Giorgio was a sculptor and an architect who studied with Vecchietta (Francesco di Giorgio e di Lorenzo). Among di Giorgio's creations were a significant number of military fortifications commissioned by the Duke of Urbino and he was in charge of the work creating Siena's Duomo.

Neroccio de' Landi

br>Title: The Visit of Cleopatra to Anthony, about 1476
Artist: Neroccio de' Landi (Italian 1447–1500)
Medium: Tempera: Gold and Silver Leaf on Panel
Dimensions: 36.8 x 113 cm (14-1/2 x 44-1/2 in)
Permanent Collection: © North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh.
Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation (GL.60.17.29)
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

Neroccio de' Landi was also a student of Vecchietta and worked closely with Francesco di Giorgio. His preferred subject was depicting the Saints and the Virgin Mary. His work is remembered for his intense focus on a refined surface for his creations.

Title: Joseph of Egypt or Eunostos of Tanagra, about 1493–4
Artist: Master of the Story of Griselda (active about 1490–1500)
Permanent Collection: © National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
Samuel H. Kress Collection (1952.5.2).
Image 2007 Board of Trustees.
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

"The Master of" artist means there is uncertainty regarding the actual artist and the name is taken from a famous work. In this case, the Master of the Story of Griselda created works illustrating the last story of Boccaccio's Decameron.

Renaissance Siena: Art for a City contains nearly one hundred exhibits that will include paintings, sculptures, drawings, manuscripts and ceramics.

Some of the outstanding Sienese paintings in the National Gallery's own collection are included, several specially cleaned and restored to celebrate the art of Siena from 1460 to 1530.

Saint Catherine of Siena by Neroccio di Bartolommeo de'Landi Renaissance Siena Art for a City at London's National Gallery of Art
Title: Saint Catherine of Siena, 1474
Artist: Neroccio di Bartolommeo de'Landi (Italian 1447-1500)
Permanent Collection: Oratorio di Santa Caterina, Siena
© Photo Lensini, Siena
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, London

Renaissance Siena: Art for a City
National Gallery of Art, London:
October 24, 2007 - January 13, 2008

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