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HALL
1
Painting from mid 13th century to 14th century
The most important work in this hall and the museum's masterwork of midieval
painting is the wood pannel with "Mary on Her Throne holding Baby
Jesus in Her arms". The pannel was originally painted for the Dominican
church of the Caritą and transferred in mid 15th century to the newly
completed church of S. Domenico. Since 1867 it has been in the collection of
the municipal museum. During its long restoration process (1981 to 1994) it
was discovered that the pannel had been cut along the bottom and along its
frame. Missing elements have been discovered in the left area (along side
the angels) and, in part, also in the right and central areas. Art
historians place it in the Siena school because its style is that of Pietro
Lorenzetti, Meo da Siena, and Duccio da Boninsegna. Studies carried out by
C. Brandi in 1951 on the "Maestą" painted by Duccio da Boninsegna in 1302
for the "Sala dei Nove" in the municipal building of Siena and today
inexistant contained the formal elements later applied to the Cittą di
Castello work. Another art historian, P. Scarpellini, in a 1987 study
affirms a certain distance and indipendence between the painter of the
pannel (practically unknown and sometimes referred to as Maestro di Cittą di
Castello) and Duccio. He sees in the pannel an affinity with mural paintings
in the upper Basilica of San Francesco at Assisi in the representation of
the angels and of the throne, so that its author must have been in contact
with painters working at Assisi at the end of the 13th century. With respect
to Duccio, the "Maestro of Cittą di Castello" appears some what archaic with
his rich colours and austere and intimate feeling.
Mary
on Her Throne with Baby Jesus
by Spinello Aretino (1350 ca - 1410 ca) was painted at the
end of the 14th century. It is the central part of a large pannel which was
later broken up. Spinello's style was late Gothic with a strong influence
from Giotto.
  
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