Piccolomini Library, Duomo Siena - a photo on Flickriver

            The Libreria Piccolomini is famed for its beautifully preserved Renaissance frescoes. The library was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini, Archbishop of Siena (later Pope Pius III), to honour the memory and book collection of his maternal uncle Enea (Aeneas) Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II.

The library was constructed in about 1492, inspired in part by the opening of the Vatican Library under Pope Sixtus IV in 1475. The ornate marble entrance in the north aisle of the cathedral was sculpted by Lorenzo di Mariano (a.k.a. Marrina). The lunettes bear the coats of arms of Cardinal Francesco and Pius II. Above the portal is a large fresco by Pinturicchio (1505) depicting the coronation of Pius III.

The walls of the library are beautifully decorated with ten frescoes by Pinturicchio (1502-07) depicting the eventful life of Pope Pius II. A young Raphael may have been among the pupils who assisted. Each scene is labeled with a Latin inscription, taken from the pope's biography by the humanist writer Giovanni Antonio Campano. The story begins at the end of the room next to the right-hand window, then proceeds clockwise around the room. The scenes depicted are as follows:

The impressive vault of the library, also painted by Pinturicchio (c.1502), is ornately decorated with grotesques, scenes from classical mythology, and a variety of putti, satyrs, nymphs and tritons. The three large squares in the center depict the Rape of Proserpine, the Piccolomini coat of arms, and Diana and Endymion.

Taken on: September 28, 2016

Tags:

Cathedrale di Santa Maria

Duomo

Tuscany

Italy

Renaissance

art

architecture

Catholic

church

Piccolomini

Library

Pinturicchio

fresco

Nicola Pisano « less

Sets appears in: • Siena

Groups appears in: • Architecture • Photographs of Italy more » • Tuscany / Toscana • Buildings/Architecture • Church Interiors • Churches, Chapels, Domes, Mosques, Temples, Shrines and Monaster • CHURCHES & HOUSES OF WORSHIP • Toscana • Architecture Photography • Italian Flickr World • Historical and architectural gems • Temples and Temple Statues and Art • National Geographic | World Wide • ITALIA - ITALY - ITALIE - ITALIEN • Artistic Perspectives • Art Museion • Sacral Buildings - Sakralbauten • Sacral Buildings - Sakralbauten BEST OF (geschlossen) • Italy: Art, Landscape and Architecture • ₪ ARCHITECTUR•ℰxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ┼ɪɴsɪƊƐ•SIGN ₪ « less

Camera: Nikon D750, f/7.1, 1/125 sec, 24mm, ISO 2500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D750
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	24mm
ISO:	2500
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture NX 2.4.7 W
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