DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0190
174
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
tures by this master in the small hospital called Mona Agnesa* * * §
in Siena, where he painted a historical work of which the
composition displayed new qualities that were greatly ad-
mired. On one of the walls of the great hospital also, he
painted the Nativity of the Virgin in fresco, with a second
picture, representing her approaching the Temple with others
of her age.f The chapter-house of the Angustine friars, in
the same city, was also enriched by Lorenzetti, who painted
the Apostles on the ceiling of that edifice. Each holds a
tablet, whereon that part of the Creed composed by the said
Apostle is written. Beneath each figure is a small repre-
sentation, which exhibits in painting the subject written on
the scrolls above. Near these works, and on the principal
facade, are three stories ; one of them is from the life of St.
Catharine the Martyr, and represents her holding a disputa-
tion with the tyrant in the Temple ; another is the Cruci-
fixion of Christ, with the Thieves on the Cross, and the
Maries beneath, the latter supporting the Virgin, who has
fainted, — all which display much grace and a good manner.^
In one of the large halls of the palace of the Signoria in
Siena, Ambruogio represented the War of Asinalunga,§
with the various events of the peace which succeeded ; in
this work he introduced a map,|| which for those times was
perfect. In the same palace, Lorenzetti executed eight his-
torical pieces in terra verde, most exquisitely finished.^ He
is also said to have sent a picture in distemper to Vol terra,
in which city it was very highly esteemed; and at Massa,
* So called because founded by Agnese d’Arezzo. The paintings of
Ambruogio are destroyed.
f This picture, which Ambruogio painted in company with his brother
Pietro (see note, p. 140), was destroyed in 1720.
J These works are also lost.
§ The author here means to intimate the victory gained by the Sien-
nese over the Compagnia del Cappello, in the year 1363 ; but it is very
doubtful whether these pictures are by Ambruogio. To those who
know the works of art by which the public palace of Siena is enricheds,
even this slight intimation of Vasari will suffice to shew that he is
speaking of the allegorical paintings in the hall called De'Nove, or
Della Pace.—Ed. Flor, See further, Lanzi, History of Painting, vol. i,
p. 281, who calls this painting a poem rich in moral precepts.
I| This map represented the entire district of Siena. See Della
Valle. Letters Sanese, ii, p. 222.
They were painted in 1345, but have long been lost.
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
tures by this master in the small hospital called Mona Agnesa* * * §
in Siena, where he painted a historical work of which the
composition displayed new qualities that were greatly ad-
mired. On one of the walls of the great hospital also, he
painted the Nativity of the Virgin in fresco, with a second
picture, representing her approaching the Temple with others
of her age.f The chapter-house of the Angustine friars, in
the same city, was also enriched by Lorenzetti, who painted
the Apostles on the ceiling of that edifice. Each holds a
tablet, whereon that part of the Creed composed by the said
Apostle is written. Beneath each figure is a small repre-
sentation, which exhibits in painting the subject written on
the scrolls above. Near these works, and on the principal
facade, are three stories ; one of them is from the life of St.
Catharine the Martyr, and represents her holding a disputa-
tion with the tyrant in the Temple ; another is the Cruci-
fixion of Christ, with the Thieves on the Cross, and the
Maries beneath, the latter supporting the Virgin, who has
fainted, — all which display much grace and a good manner.^
In one of the large halls of the palace of the Signoria in
Siena, Ambruogio represented the War of Asinalunga,§
with the various events of the peace which succeeded ; in
this work he introduced a map,|| which for those times was
perfect. In the same palace, Lorenzetti executed eight his-
torical pieces in terra verde, most exquisitely finished.^ He
is also said to have sent a picture in distemper to Vol terra,
in which city it was very highly esteemed; and at Massa,
* So called because founded by Agnese d’Arezzo. The paintings of
Ambruogio are destroyed.
f This picture, which Ambruogio painted in company with his brother
Pietro (see note, p. 140), was destroyed in 1720.
J These works are also lost.
§ The author here means to intimate the victory gained by the Sien-
nese over the Compagnia del Cappello, in the year 1363 ; but it is very
doubtful whether these pictures are by Ambruogio. To those who
know the works of art by which the public palace of Siena is enricheds,
even this slight intimation of Vasari will suffice to shew that he is
speaking of the allegorical paintings in the hall called De'Nove, or
Della Pace.—Ed. Flor, See further, Lanzi, History of Painting, vol. i,
p. 281, who calls this painting a poem rich in moral precepts.
I| This map represented the entire district of Siena. See Della
Valle. Letters Sanese, ii, p. 222.
They were painted in 1345, but have long been lost.