Renaissance Siena Habent sua fata libelli SIXTEENTH CENTURY ESSAYS & STUDIES SERIES GENERAL EDITOR Raymond A. Mentzer University of Iowa EDITORIAL BOARD OF SIXTEENTH CENTURY ESSAYS & STUDIES ELAINE BEILIN HELEN NADER Framingham State College University of Arizona MIRIAM U. CHRISMAN CHARLES G. NAUERT University of Massachusetts, Emerita University of Missouri, Emeritus BARBARA B. DIEFENDORF THEODORE K. RABB Boston University Princeton University PAULA FINDLEN MAX REINHART Stanford University University of Georgia SCOTT H. HENDRIX SHERYL E. REISS Princeton Theological Seminary Cornell University JANE CAMPBELL HUTCHISON JOHN D. ROTH University of Wisconsin–Madison Goshen College RALPH KEEN ROBERT V. SCHNUCKER University of Iowa Truman State University, Emeritus ROBERT M. KINGDON NICHOLAS TERPSTRA University of Wisconsin, Emeritus University of Toronto MARY B. MCKINLEY MARGO TODD University of Virginia University of Pennsylvania MERRY WIESNER-HANKS University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Art ontext in Edited by A. Lawrence Jenkens Sixteenth Century Essays & Studies 71 Truman State University Press Copyright © 2005 Truman State University Press, Kirksville, Missouri USA All rights reserved tsup.truman.edu Cover art: Pinturicchio, Meeting Between Frederick III and Eleanor of Aragon, 1505–8. Fresco, Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena. Reproduced by permission from Scala/ Art Resource, NY. Cover design: Shaun Hoffiditz Type: Bembo™, The Monotype Corporation Printed by: McNaughton & Gunn Inc., Saline, Michigan USA Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Renaissance Siena : art in context / edited by A. Lawrence Jenkens. p. cm. — (Sixteenth century essays and studies ; v. 71) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-931112-42-8 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 1-931112-43-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-935503-68-2 (e-book) 1. Art, Renaissance—Italy—Siena. 2. Art, Italian—Italy—Siena—15th century. 3. Art, Italian—Italy—Siena—16th century. I. Jenkens, A. Lawrence, 1959– II. Sixteenth century essays & studies ; v. 71. N6921.S6R36 2005 709'.45'5809024—dc22 2004024690 No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any format by any means without written permission from the publisher. ∞ The paper in this publication meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48–1992. For Catherine and Emmie Contents FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv A. Lawrence Jenkens INTRODUCTION Renaissance Siena, the State of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Judith Steinhoff REALITY AND IDEALITY IN SIENESE RENAISSANCE CITYSCAPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Matthias Quast PALACE FAÇADES IN LATE MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE SIENA Continuity and Change in the Aspect of the City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Mauro Mussolin THE REBUILDING OF SIENA’S CHURCH OF SANTO SPIRITO IN THE LATE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Benjamin David NARRATIVE IN CONTEXT The Cassoni of Francesco di Giorgio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Fabrizio J. D. Nevola AMBROGIO SPANNOCCHI’S “BELLA CASA” Creating Site and Setting in Quattrocento Sienese Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Stratton D. Green A FIFTEENTH-CENTURY SIENESE FABULA The Dynastic and Patriotic Significance of the Piccolomini Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155 Susan E. Wegner THE RISE OF SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA AS AN INTERCESSOR FOR THE SIENESE. . . . . . . . . .173 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195 CONTRIBUTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201 INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203 Figures Judith Steinhoff REALITY AND IDEALITY IN SIENESE RENAISSANCE CITYSCAPES Fig. 1. Guido da Siena, Entry into Jerusalem, mid-thirteenth century. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Fig. 2. Osservanza Master, Saint Anthony the Abbot Tempted by a Heap of Gold, ca. 1435. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Fig. 3. Il Libro dei Censi, ca. 1400. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Fig. 4. Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Allegory of the Good Government: Effects of the Good Government in the City, 1338–39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Fig. 5. Bartolo di Fredi, Adoration of the Magi, ca. 1385–88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Fig. 6. Siena, Il Memoriale delle Offese, 1224. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Fig. 7. Bartolo di Fredi, Ciardelli Altarpiece, 1382. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Fig. 8. Bartolo di Fredi, John the Baptist Led into the Wilderness by an Angel (detail of fig. 7).. . . . . . . . . . . .34 Fig. 9. The Palazzo Pubblico and the Duomo (detail of fig. 3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Fig. 10. Saint Ansanus (detail of fig. 3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Fig. 11. Saint Crescentius (detail of fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Fig. 12. Domenico di Niccolo, The Virgin and the Podesta, 1414(?) or 1426–28(?). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Fig. 13. Sano di Pietro, San Bernardino with Siena, 1445. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Fig. 14. Sano di Pietro, Siena (detail of fig. 14). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Matthias Quast PALACE FAÇADES IN LATE MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE SIENA Fig. 1. Palazzo Pubblico, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Fig. 2. Three-light windows, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena (detail of fig. 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Fig. 3. Palazzo Rossi, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Fig. 4. Palazzo Petroni, formerly the Palazzo Capitano di Giustizia, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Fig. 5. Late quattrocento palace between Via dei Servi and Via delle Cantine, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Fig. 6. Palazzetto at Via di San Pietro, 57, at Porta all’Arco, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Fig. 7. Palazzo Piccolomini, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Fig. 8. Palazzo di Caterina Piccolomini, called “delle Papesse,” Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Fig. 9. Palazzo del Vecchio, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Fig. 10. Palazzo Urgurgieri, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Fig. 11. Casa Calusi Giannini, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Fig. 12. Palazzo Bandini Piccolomini, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Fig. 13. Palazzo Borghesi, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Fig. 14. Palazzo del Taia, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Fig. 15. Detail of doorway, Palazzo del Magnifico, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Fig. 16. Partial representation of the Sodoma decoration, Palazzo Chigi al Casato, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Fig. 17. Palazzo Celsi Pollini, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 x FIGURES Mauro Mussolin THE REBUILDING OF SIENA’S CHURCH OF SANTO SPIRITO IN THE LATE FIFTEENTH CENTURY Fig. 1. Exterior of presbytery, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Fig. 2. Plan of Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Fig. 3. Façade, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 Fig. 4. Monumental doorframe, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 Fig. 5. View of cloister from above, Santo Spirito, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Fig. 6. Façade prior to nineteenth-century restorations, San Francesco, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Fig. 7. Façade, San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Fig. 8. Exterior view of west aisle wall with walled-in arches and traces of medieval wall, Santo Spirito, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Fig. 9. View of interior vaulting towards the entrance, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Fig. 10. Exterior view of dome, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Fig. 11. View of interior towards the presbytery, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Fig. 12. Section and plan with site of original church shown in gray, Santo Spirito, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Fig. 13. View of interior pilasters, Santo Spirito, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Fig. 14. Proposed sequence of interventions on the church, Santo Spirito, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Benjamin David NARRATIVE IN CONTEXT Fig. 1. Francesco di Giorgio, Triumph of Chastity, mid-1460s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Fig. 2. Workshop of Francesco di Giorgio, Goddess of Chaste Love, ca. 1469–75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Fig. 3. Workshop of Francesco di Giorgio, Cassoni of the Two Triumphs, ca. 1469–75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 Fig. 4. Workshop of Francesco di Giorgio, Detail of The Meeting of Dido and Aeneas, ca. 1469–75. . . . . .124 Fig. 5. Neroccio de’ Landi, The Visit of Cleopatra to Antony, ca. 1475. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 Fig. 6. Michele Ciampanti, Detail of Antiochus and Stratonice, ca.1470–75. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130 Fig. 7. Liberale da Verona, The Chess Players, ca. 1475. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Fig. 8. Neroccio de’ Landi, Portrait of a Lady, ca. 1490 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134 Fig. 9. Francesco di Giorgio, The Story of Paris, ca. 1469–75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 Fabrizio J. D. Nevola AMBROGIO SPANNOCCHI’S “BELLA CASA” Fig. 1. Map showing the site created for the Palazzo Spannocchi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 Fig. 2. Pazzini-Carli e Figli, Palazzo Spannocchi, 1755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 Fig. 3. View from the north, Palazzo Spannocchi, Siena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Fig. 4. Detail of a doorframe in the andito, Palazzo Spannocchi, Siena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Stratton D. Green A FIFTEENTH-CENTURY SIENESE FABULA Fig. 1. Interior view of the Piccolomini Library, with frescoes by Pinturicchio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156 Fig. 2. Floor plan, Cattedrale di Santa Maria (Duomo), ca, 1658 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158 Fig. 3. Pinturicchio, Coronation of Pius III, ca. 1503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 Fig. 4. Pinturicchio, The Meeting Between Frederick III and Eleanor of Aragon, ca. 1505–8 . . . . . . . . . . . . .161 Fig. 5. Pinturicchio, The Canonization of Saint Catherine, ca. 1505–8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 Fig. 6. Pinturicchio, The Arrival of Pius II at the Port of Ancona, ca. 1505–8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169 Renaissance Siena: Art in Context