The Pavement Masters of Siena (1369-1562)Cust, Robert H. Hobart (Robert Henry Hobart)
History
The Pavement Masters of Siena (1369-1562)
Cust, Robert H. Hobart (Robert Henry Hobart)
Art -- Italy -- Siena; Duomo di Siena; Pavements, Mosaic
This chapel, which was originally dedicated to S. Andrew, has recently
been entirely rejuvenated, at the expense of the late Signora Anna
Camaiori Saracini, and re-dedicated to Sta. Anna. There is not,
therefore, at first sight much trace of the original work left. We know
that, in 1504,[226] Lorenzo di Mariano (_Il Marrina_) was employed
by Giacomo Piccolomini, brother of Pope Pius III., to adorn their
family chapel in this church; and, that he not only made an altar, the
decorations around the windows, and the entrance arch to the chapel,
but also laid down four Cardinal Virtues: _Justice_, _Prudence_,
_Fortitude_, and _Temperance_, on the floor.[227] Of all this work,
the various conflagrations, that have destroyed the great church of S.
Francesco, have left only the arch, the coats of arms, the windows, a
small portion of the altar, and the pavement. Restoration, of a too
complete kind, has even further concealed the original nature of what
remained; and one’s first impression on looking at this pavement is
that it is brand-new, so well has Professor Leopoldo Maccari done his
work.[228] The figures, however, on close inspection, show high merit.
They are finely conceived, on the lines of the Sibyls in the Duomo, and
are imposing pieces of work. Lorenzo di Mariano (_Il Marrina_) was one
of the finest sculptors of his time. He was born on the 11th of August,
1476, and was the son of Mariano di Domenico Nanni, a goldsmith. In
1506, he became Capo-maestro of the Opera del Duomo,[229] where he
had been employed since 1490, under the mastership of Giovanni di
Maestro Stefano. On the 28th of January, in the following year, he
married Elisabetta, daughter of Ser Jacopo Bertini, by whom he had four
sons: by name, Girolamo, Gio.-Battista, Agostino, and Giacomo, who
were goldsmiths; and one daughter, Bartolommea, who married Lattanzio
di Gio. Lotti. He worked a great deal for the various members of the
Piccolomini family; the finest extant piece commissioned by them
remaining, being the doorway of the Libreria in the Duomo. A tabernacle
in the chapel of the Convent of S. Girolamo, and, above all, the
exquisite altar in the church of the Fontegiusta by him, testify that
the admiration, in which he was held, in his day, was not misplaced.
3. _The Pavement of the Chapel of Sta. Caterina in S. Domenico._
Of this work we have no reliable record; but it is clearly of late
date, perhaps made in the sixteenth century, and most probably, as
a sepulchral memorial. We learn from Abate Faluschi,[230] that this
chapel belonged to the Benzi family, and was their burial-place. Hither
was brought the body of the famous Marco, son of Giovanni Benzi and
Nicola Serfucci, who was physician to Niccolo, Marchese d’Este, and
died in Ferrara in 1429. The corpse was buried by his uncle Ugo, son
of Andrea Benzi and Minoccia Pagni, in 1448; and the chapel was built
over the grave by Niccolo Buonsignore Benzi in 1488. The following
inscription, now effaced:--
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