GHIRLANDAIO, Domenico
(b. 1449, Firenze, d. 1494, Firenze)

Vaulting of the Sassetti Chapel

c. 1485
Fresco
Santa Trinita, Florence

The vaulting of the Sassetti Chapel depicts four sibyls enthroned in the spandrels. This is the first time that a chapel program included sibyls in the vaulting instead of the evangelists, Church fathers, or prophets. All four are associated with the birth of Christ because of their prophecies. Three of them - the Cumean and Eritrean sibyls and Agrippina - can be identified by their inscription ribbons, the fourth is still in the process of writing her inscription, so her identification is less certain, perhaps she is the Cimmerian Sibyl.




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