Piccolomini Altarpiece

The Picolomini - altar is an altar in the north aisle of the Cathedral of Siena.

History

III. , Intended, can be set up for himself and his family in the north aisle of the cathedral at Siena an altar Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, later Pope Pius. This the entire wall surface engaging work should be completed in 1485. The altar was created 1481-1485 by Andrea Bregno in Carrara marble. To figurative design Pietro Torrigiano was initially determined. After he had created the statue of St. Francis, he joined as a soldier in the army of Cesare Borgia and disappeared from Florence. The fact that Torrigiano Michelangelo had smashed his nose in the Scuola di San Marco, was probably a motive for Michelangelo to accept the contract for completion of the altar, so to get delayed gratification. The contract was signed by the ecclesiastical dignitaries and on 19 and June 25, 1501 on 5 June in 1501 by Michelangelo or by Jocopo Galli.

The deposit was 500 gold ducats. Deliver fifteen were prescribed in their dimensions statues. These should be above but still approved by an independent expert. Should not correspond to the quality, Michelangelo would have had to provide a replacement. Within this period of three years Michelangelo was allowed to receive any further orders. But Michelangelo could not resist the lure of the free market in Florence (see zBua David ) and so it was that he could the Pope now collected Piccolomini show not a single statue after this period. However, it is assumed that the Bruges Madonna was originally intended for this order. Send your heirs Michelangelo a reminder letter with the offer, the contract be extended for two years. Under this impression Michelangelo supplies in October 1504 five sculptures, which included the statue started by Torrigiani of St. Francis. The other is of St. Gregory, St. Pius, St. Paul and St. Peter. The statues are smooth routine work, which is to be considered, is that they were pressed for time and not, as it was originally, the Treaty, exceed all contemporary sculptures in Rome. Only in the apostle statues of St. Peter and Paul, he is able to leave the common typology. 1508 Michelangelo rises out of the contract, because he has taken, and will pay the deposit of 100 gold ducats back to the heirs.

Pictures

St. Pius

St. Gregory

St. Paul

St. Peter