Panel paintings and frescoes in a art Saturday

diptych attributed to the painter from Lucca Bonaventura
Berlinghieri, half of the thirteenth century
Photo Wikimedia Commons

Croce 432 anonymous painter of Pisa,
last quarter of the twelfth centuryPhoto Wikimedia Commons

Croce 434 anonymous Florentine painter,
middle of the thirteenth centuryPhoto Wikimedia Commons

Having finally free time after weeks of intense work, I took a walk in the historic center. At the end of the morning I visited the exhibition of the three oldest paintings in the Uffizi just restored and on display in the church of San Pier Scheraggio until March 29 (the entrance is free and in the first portal to the left in the loggia of the Uffizi). I share photos of the paintings before restoration but here you can see a gallery of photos after the restoration.

In the afternoon, passing through the narrow streets of the city near the Casa di Dante I visited the Oratory of San Martino seat of the Company of Buonomini, a benefit company founded in 1441. The interior is richly decorated with frescoes in the lunettes, attributed by some to the workshop of Ghirlandaio but for others to Francesco d'Antonio del Chierico. On the altar a wooden sculpture painted of St. Anthony attributed to Verrocchio. To the right of the door the hole for alms unfortunately with a "graffito".

Photo Wikimedia Commons

Illumination from Piccolomini Library

Illumination on parchment, egg tempera with pure pigments, genuine lapislazzuli and gold leaf 23 3/4 on pastiglia cm.6,5x4

This is the first of a new series of illuminations copied from the manuscripts conserved in the Piccolomini Library in the Duomo di Siena. 

At end of August I visited the Duomo of Siena for the annual exposition of the marble decorated floor (see my post with images and videos) and I took this pictures of illuminations exposed, illuminated by Liberale da Verona and Girolamo da Cremona. 

During the visit I tried to fix in my mind the colors of the original illuminations.

I share other photos of the frescoes by Pinturicchio that cover all the surface of the ceiling and the walls in the Library.

 The last photo is a detail of the floor with decorated tiles.

Gilded sculpture work in progress

 

 

Plaster casts from the door of sacristy in Santa Maria Del Fiore

Two plaster casts copy from the door of the new sacresty "delle Messe" by Luca Della Robbia in Santa Maria del Fiore. Here two photos of the original door with the locations of the heads in red.

The last month I visited the interior of the sacristy a real masterpiece of art of wood intarsia (you have to call and take an appointment in the Opera del Duomo). Unfortunately it was not allowed to take pictures, then you can see some pictures in this website http://www.atlantedellarteitaliana.it/artwork-258.html

More photos but in black and white in this book in the Project Guenberg at this link http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30215/30215-h/30215-h.htm

 

The marble floor of the Cathedral of Siena

At the end of August we went to Siena to visit the Duomo during the uncovering of marble decorated floor. Every year at this time the floor is visible for about two months, the rest of the year is covered for preservation reasons.

Will be possible to see it until october 24.

I share these photos and two videos that might make better the beauty of this masterpiece.

I've also included some photos of the reasons in black and white frames that inspire me for my next graffiti fresco.

Here the link of the Opera del Duomo of Siena with a study on the story and tecnique of the floor.

Alla fine di agosto siamo andati a Siena per visitare il Duomo in occasione della scopritura del pavimento decorato. ogni anno in questo periodo il pavimento è visibile per circa due mesi, il resto dell'anno è coperto per motivi di conservazione.

Sarà possibile vederlo ancora fino al 24 di ottobre.

Condivido queste foto e due video che forse renderanno meglio la bellezza di questo capolavoro.

Ho incluso anche alcune foto dei motivi in bianco e nero delle cornici che mi ispireranno per i miei prossimi graffiti ad affresco.

Qui il link dell'Opera del Duomo di Siena con un approfondimento sulla storia e la tecnica del pavimento.

design of The floor

 

 

San Michele and Gaetano Church

Yesterday afternoon I took these pictures in the baroque church of San Michele e Gaetano located in Piazza Antinori. 

Exceptionally only for few days were mounted the "parato", an incredible series of decorations embroidered on silk of 1700 that are not visible for preservation reasons. 

The last time had been exposed was 15 years ago for the restoration of the church and then stored to protect silks and colors from dust and light. 

I hope will not have to wait so long!

Ieri pomeriggio ho scattato queste foto nella chiesa barocca di San Michele e Gaetano situata in Piazza Antinori. Eccezzionalmente solo per pochi giorni é stato montato il "parato", un'incredibile serie di decorazioni ricamate su seta del 1700 che non sono normalmente visibili per motivi di conservazione. 

L'ultima volta erano stati esposti 15 anni fa per il restauro della chiesa e poi conservati per proteggere le sete e i colori  da polvere e luce. 

Spero di non dover aspettare cosi tanto tempo!

Cathedral Saint André Bordeaux

Tour Pey-Berland

traces of frescoes and a strip that shows the stone before cleaning?!

Chapel with neogothic decorations