DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0141
AGOSTINO AND AGNOLO.
125
no long time after, Agostino and Agnolo were invited to
Orvieto by some of the Tolomei family, who were living
there in exile, when the brothers executed certain sculptures
for the church of Santa Maria in that city. The Prophets
in marble, which are now considered among the best and
most finely proportioned of all the ornaments enriching that
much celebrated facade, are by their hands.
Now it happened in the year 1326, that Giotto was in-
vited to Naples, as we have related in his life, by means of
Charles, Duke of Calabria, who was then residing in Florence,
to execute certain works for King Robert, in the church of
Santa Clara, and other places of that city. On his way
thither, Giotto paid a visit to Orvieto, for the purpose of
viewing the works completed and in course of execution by
the many good artists labouring there, all of which he desired
to examine minutely. And as the Prophets of Agostino and
Agnolo pleased him more than all the other sculptures,
Giotto not only commended them and received the artists
into the number of his friends, to their very great satisfac-
tion, but presented them to Piero Saccone da Pietramala, as
the best of all the sculptors then existing, to construct the
tomb of Guido, bishop and lord of Arezzo, as we have re-
lated in the life of Giotto. Thus then, Giotto, having seen the
works of many sculptors in Orvieto, and having decided that
those of Agostino and Agnolo, of Siena, were the best among
them, was the cause of this tomb being given to the care of the
brothers, who constructed it accordingly with great diligence,
but in the manner that he had designed, and after the model
sent by him to Piero Saccone, completing the sepulchre in
three years, and erecting it in the Episcopal church of
Arezzo, within the chapel of the sacrament. The figure of
the bishop, in marble, is extended on the sarcophagus,
which reposes on certain large consoles, carved with con-
siderable skill, while on each side are angels drawing back
a curtain with very graceful and natural action. There
are besides, twelve* compartments, in mezzo-relievo, repre-
* These relievi are sixteen ; they are described more exactly by our
author in his Ragionamenti; but as the account here given of them is not
strictly accurate, we abridge the very minute description of Cicognara
for the reader’s better information. No. 1. Guido elected bishop (1312).
2. Called to be Lord of Arezzo. 3. The Commune of Arezzo, under
125
no long time after, Agostino and Agnolo were invited to
Orvieto by some of the Tolomei family, who were living
there in exile, when the brothers executed certain sculptures
for the church of Santa Maria in that city. The Prophets
in marble, which are now considered among the best and
most finely proportioned of all the ornaments enriching that
much celebrated facade, are by their hands.
Now it happened in the year 1326, that Giotto was in-
vited to Naples, as we have related in his life, by means of
Charles, Duke of Calabria, who was then residing in Florence,
to execute certain works for King Robert, in the church of
Santa Clara, and other places of that city. On his way
thither, Giotto paid a visit to Orvieto, for the purpose of
viewing the works completed and in course of execution by
the many good artists labouring there, all of which he desired
to examine minutely. And as the Prophets of Agostino and
Agnolo pleased him more than all the other sculptures,
Giotto not only commended them and received the artists
into the number of his friends, to their very great satisfac-
tion, but presented them to Piero Saccone da Pietramala, as
the best of all the sculptors then existing, to construct the
tomb of Guido, bishop and lord of Arezzo, as we have re-
lated in the life of Giotto. Thus then, Giotto, having seen the
works of many sculptors in Orvieto, and having decided that
those of Agostino and Agnolo, of Siena, were the best among
them, was the cause of this tomb being given to the care of the
brothers, who constructed it accordingly with great diligence,
but in the manner that he had designed, and after the model
sent by him to Piero Saccone, completing the sepulchre in
three years, and erecting it in the Episcopal church of
Arezzo, within the chapel of the sacrament. The figure of
the bishop, in marble, is extended on the sarcophagus,
which reposes on certain large consoles, carved with con-
siderable skill, while on each side are angels drawing back
a curtain with very graceful and natural action. There
are besides, twelve* compartments, in mezzo-relievo, repre-
* These relievi are sixteen ; they are described more exactly by our
author in his Ragionamenti; but as the account here given of them is not
strictly accurate, we abridge the very minute description of Cicognara
for the reader’s better information. No. 1. Guido elected bishop (1312).
2. Called to be Lord of Arezzo. 3. The Commune of Arezzo, under