Fresco fragments from the Manetti Chapel (1387-91)
by SPINELLO ARETINO

In 1348, (Gio)Vanni Manetti del Buono wrote instructions in his will that his chapel dedicated to John the Baptist (his name saint) in Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence should be painted. The fresco cycle devoted to scenes from the life of St John the Baptist in the Manetti Chapel was identified on the basis of engravings made by Thomas Patch in 1772.

The decoration of the chapel, situated to the right of the choir, consisted of six scenes from the life of St John the Baptist: the Annunciation to Zacharias; the Visitation; the Birth and Naming of John the Baptist; the Baptist preaching in the Desert and the Baptism; the Decollation and Burial of the Baptist; the Baptist visited in Prison by Two Apostles and the Feast of Herod.

The frescoes were already in poor condition in 1763-64 when they were restored. When the church of the Carmine was largely destroyed by fire in 1771, they suffered comparatively little. Patch made the engravings in 1772 and removed some fragments from the wall, the rest was presumably destroyed in the reconstruction of the church. There are twelve fragments to survive.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (1)
1387-91
Fresco, 51 x 51 cm
National Gallery, London

1200*1199
True Color
225 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (2)
1387-91
Fresco, 41 x 39 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

733*843
True Color
90 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (3)
1387-91
Fresco, 65 x 49 cm
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam

617*842
True Color
89 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (4)
1387-91
Fresco, 71 x 65 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

669*842
True Color
74 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (5)
1387-91
Fresco, 53 x 53 cm
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

887*842
True Color
97 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (6)
1387-91
Fresco, 48 x 45 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

877*1060
True Color
113 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (7)
1387-91
Fresco, 50 x 36 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

799*1060
True Color
100 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (8)
1387-91
Fresco, 43 x 36 cm
Pinacoteca Malaspina, Pavia

891*1060
True Color
144 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (9)
1387-91
Fresco, 43 x 32 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

809*1060
True Color
96 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (10)
1387-91
Fresco, 39 x 31 cm
Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, Pisa

801*1060
True Color
120 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (11)
1387-91
Fresco, 38 x 33 cm
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

800*983
True Color
108 Kb



Fragment from the Manetti Chapel (12)
1387-91
Fresco, 45 x 38 cm
Private collection

800*983
True Color
109 Kb




Paintings by SPINELLO ARETINO
Fresco cycle in the Sacristy of San Miniato al Monte, Florence (1388)
Fresco fragments from the Manetti Chapel (1387-91)
Various paintings