Second day of our Tuscany holiday.
Please view large, if you have time.
The ‘Three Graces’ forget their nudity to admire the works of the great Pinturicchio. Pinturicchio who came from Perugia, not too far from Siena, was given the nickname Pinturicchio (the little painter) for his small stature. His real name was Bernardino di Betto.
When in Siena, we bought a OPA Pass which allowed us to see all that the Siena Cathedral complex had to offer.
One amazing place – which I had already seen on my previous visit and which I still admired – was the Piccolomini Library. The Library is actually a magnificent ceremonial hall – annexed to the cathedral. It was intended by its patron, Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (later Pope Pius III)), to contain his family’s literary treasures and at the same time to celebrate the memory of his uncle Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini, who had reigned as Pope Pius II..
The walls of the library are decorated with a cycle of frescoes painted by Pinturicchio between 1502 and 1507. They depict events in the life of Piccolomini. Below them, not shown, are display cases filled with an important collection of 30 richly illustrated Renaissance choir books from 1465 to 1515.
In the centre of the hall is a group of statues known as the Tre Grazie (the Three Graces) a 3rd-century Roman copy of an earlier Hellenistic work.
Thank you very much for looking and for your wonderful comments and the comments on yesterday’s picture.
When you view this enlarged, it's like you're right there! The colors and details are marvelous. The history you share really gives me a mind set in viewing your shots - hard to believe how ancient some of the history you're finding and sharing really is
Looks lovely on black.................the detail and 3 sculptures in the foreground really stand out when viewed on black.
Thanks for sharing..........FAV
Thanks for sharing..........FAV