The National Gallery, established in 1824, is home to Britain's national art collection. The Gallery's first Director, Sir Charles Eastlake, ensured that the British nation would inherit one of the world's finest collections of Western European art. An exhibition called Renaissance Siena – Art for a City, is sponsored by Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and ends on 13 January, 2008.
The National Gallery is presenting approximately 95 items including sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, drawings, ceramics, stucco and bronze casts from the period 1460 to 1530. Many of these works are part of the National's own collection whilst many others have been loaned by museums all over the world. The exhibition will tell the story of the culture, politics and violence of the final century of the Sienese Republic.
The Arrangement of the Exhibition
The first room introduces the patron saints of Siena and the art we see here reflects their importance in the development of Siena's culture and politics. Siena called itself the City of the Virgin. The Virgin is repeatedly shown by Sienese artists protecting sailors from shipwreck. She is also portrayed protecting the City from earthquakes and invasion by the neighbouring Florentines.
The City had many other saints but the 14th century visionary Catherine (Caterina Benincasa) and the preacher Bernardino (Bernardino degli Albizzeschi) stand out as favourites with the Sienese artists. Saint Catherine of Siena (1474) is a polychrome wood sculpture by Neroccio de' Landi (1447-1500). It shows Catherine dressed in a Dominican habit with the signs of the stigmata, the marks of Christ's wounds, clearly visible on her hands and feet.
Bernardino is usually shown preaching to the public. He was so good at preaching that in 1956 Pope Pius XII declared Bernardino the patron saint of advertisers and advertising. He is also the patron of wool-weavers.
Francesco di Giorgio
One of the leading personalities of the Sienese Renaissance was Francesco (Maurizio) di Giorgio Martini (Pollaiolo), known as Francesco di Giorgio. He was a master of almost every form of art: sculpture, illumination, architecture, and painting. Di Giorgio was a prolific artist and many of his paintings, drawings, manuscripts cast stuccos and bronzes are included in this exhibition.
Domenico Beccafumi
The climax of the exhibition is a room devoted entirely to the work of Domenico Beccafumi (1484-1551). He was regarded by many as a Sienese Giotto. (Giotto di Bondone, c. 1267-1337, known simply as Giotto.)
Throughout the exhibition the viewer is immediately struck by the expertly painted physical attributes of the subjects. The brilliant colours, especially red, blue and gold have survived the centuries in excellent condition. The vividness of these hues gives the impression of being painted only yesterday!
Much time and energy has been devoted to the study of medieval art from Siena. However, the art of the Sienese Renaissance is almost unknown outside of Italy. The National Gallery's wonderful exhibition will go a long way to bring this lost art into the public arena.
The National Gallery is famous for its spectacular exhibitions. Also showing at the Gallery is Art of Light:German Renaissance Stained Glass (9 November 2007 to 17 February 2008).
Details of all exhibitions at the National Gallery can be obtained from their website. A good source of information about the National Gallery will be found in their publication entitled The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, Baker, Christopher and Tom Henry (eds.) et.al. London: National Gallery Company. 2003.
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