The small and picturesque town of San Gimignano is currently home to a very special exhibition of a work by Renaissance master, Filippino Lippi. Housed in the Pinacoteca di San Gimignano, or the Picture Gallery (Town Hall), the exhibition displays two tondos of scenes of the Annunciation. This show is a good chance to closely examine these masterpieces by the artist, set inside their restored original frames and alongside supporting documentation. Just find a holiday rental in San Gimignano and drop by the gallery to view the work.
The two tondos tell the story of the Annunciation, when the Virgin Mary was visited by the archangel Gabriel and informed that she had been chosen to be the mother of God's child. The first of the two round paintings features the Angel Gabriel, as he brings that astounding news to the Virgin.
The two tondos tell the story of the Annunciation, when the Virgin Mary was visited by the archangel Gabriel and informed that she had been chosen to be the mother of God's child. The first of the two round paintings features the Angel Gabriel, as he brings that astounding news to the Virgin.
In the second tondo, the focus is on the Virgin Mary who is depicted with her eyes downcast as she receives the news, the perfect image of the pure and ideal candidate for the position of Christ's mother.
These two works were actually commissioned by the leaders of the Guelph faction for the Palazzo Comunale of San Gimignano in 1482 and are, therefore, more meaningful as set in the town that originally requested their creation. Besides the Lippi tondos, the exhibition also includes sketches by the artist which are on loan from the Prints and Drawings Gallery of Florence's internationally acclaimed Uffizi Gallery. As curated by Alessandro Cecchi, the exhibition comes after the success of last year's show which was built around Pinturicchio's Assumption of the Virgin with Saints Gregory and Benedict.
These two works were actually commissioned by the leaders of the Guelph faction for the Palazzo Comunale of San Gimignano in 1482 and are, therefore, more meaningful as set in the town that originally requested their creation. Besides the Lippi tondos, the exhibition also includes sketches by the artist which are on loan from the Prints and Drawings Gallery of Florence's internationally acclaimed Uffizi Gallery. As curated by Alessandro Cecchi, the exhibition comes after the success of last year's show which was built around Pinturicchio's Assumption of the Virgin with Saints Gregory and Benedict.
The exhibition furthermore includes historic documents related to the original commission of the Annunciation paintings.
Designed, as the previous Pinturicchio exhibition had been, this show aims to highlight the wonderful and unexpected collection of the gallery and to bring the attention it deserves. With Uffizi-quality works and pieces by famous masters in the town they were commissioned by, this exhibition is unique and remarkable. Visit San Gimignano and get a taste of Tuscany's great artistic tradition and heritage, without the bustle and chaos of bigger tourist centres.
Designed, as the previous Pinturicchio exhibition had been, this show aims to highlight the wonderful and unexpected collection of the gallery and to bring the attention it deserves. With Uffizi-quality works and pieces by famous masters in the town they were commissioned by, this exhibition is unique and remarkable. Visit San Gimignano and get a taste of Tuscany's great artistic tradition and heritage, without the bustle and chaos of bigger tourist centres.
