Frescoes in the Piccolomini Library of the Duomo in Siena
by PINTURICCHIO

In the recently restored Piccolomini Library Pinturicchio's fresco cycle is a rare example of a unified decoration of the early sixteenth century. Well-suited to Pinturicchio's skills and to a somewhat provincial Siena, his lyric style fits comfortably into the medieval setting of the Cathedral. The subject matter concerns incidents in the life of Pius II, the Sienese pope and humanist, an unusually complete program for someone neither a saint nor a ruler.

The donor of the library and its furnishings was Francesco Todeschini (1439-1503) who wished to create a monument to his family and a memorial to his mother's brother Enea Silvio Piccolomini who had served as Pope Pius II from 1458 to 1464. In 1460 Pius II elevated Todeschini to the rank of cardinal and permitted him to assume the Piccolomini name and the family's coat of arms. In 1503 Francesco succeeded Pope Alexander VI as Pius III but his reign was brief, he died twenty-six days later.

The contract for the decoration of the library was signed in the presence of Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini on June 19, 1502 and the painting was finished in April 1508.

The source for the ten episodes from the life of Pius II was Pius II's autobiography, the famous Commentarii, written between 1462 and 1464. In addition to being the official life story of a pope, it is a fascinating political and historical chronicle. The narratives are illustrated with descriptive clarity, the figures precisely drawn, the unatmospheric landscape bright and sharply defined.

The ten compartments are separated by painted pilasters with grotteschi decoration, while each individual scene is framed by illusionistic jambs and arches decorated with simulated red and white marble paneling. Wee seem to be looking through the arches of a gigantic loggia into scenes from Enea Silvio's life. The pageant-like incidents display a panoply of colourful costumes against fanciful architectural or landscape backgrounds, except when a recognizable setting was required by the narrative.

Preview Picture Data Info
Entrance to the Piccolomini Library
1502-08
Fresco
Duomo, Siena


The Coronation of Pope Pius III
1509
Fresco
Duomo, Siena


View of the Piccolomini Library
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


View of the Piccolomini Library
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


View of the Piccolomini Library
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


Ceiling decoration
1502-03
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


Ceiling decoration (detail)
1502-03
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


Ceiling decoration (detail)
1502-03
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 1: Enea Piccolomini Leaves for the Council of Basel
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 1: Enea Piccolomini Leaves for the Council of Basel
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 1: Enea Piccolomini Leaves for the Council of Basel (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 2: Enea Piccolomini as an Ambassador to the Court of James I of Scotland
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 3: Frederick III Crowning Enea Silvio Piccolomini with a Laurel Wreath
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 3: Frederick III Crowning Enea Silvio Piccolomini with a Laurel Wreath (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 4: Homage to Pope Eugenius IV in the Name of Emperor Frederick III
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


Homage to Pope Eugenius IV in the Name of Emperor Frederick III
1502-08
Pen and brown ink with brown wash, 650 x 405 mm
Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth


No. 5: Enea Silvio Piccolomini Presents Frederick III to Eleonora of Portugal
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 5: Enea Silvio Piccolomini Presents Frederick III to Eleonora of Portugal (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 5: Enea Silvio Piccolomini Presents Frederick III to Eleonora of Portugal (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


The Encounter between Frederick III and Eleonora of Portugal
-
Pen and brown ink with brown wash, 660 x 533 mm
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York


No. 6: Enea Silvio is Elevated to Cardinal
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 7: The Coronation of Enea Silvio Piccolomini as Pope Pius II
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 7: The Coronation of Enea Silvio Piccolomini as Pope Pius II (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 8: Pope Pius II at the Congress of Mantua
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 8: Pope Pius II at the Congress of Mantua
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 9: The Canonization of Catherine of Siena by Pope Pius II
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 9: The Canonization of Catherine of Siena by Pope Pius II (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 10: Pope Pius II Arrives in Ancona
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena


No. 10: Pope Pius II Arrives in Ancona (detail)
1502-08
Fresco
Piccolomini Library, Duomo, Siena



Summary of paintings by PINTURICCHIO
Baglioni Chapel in Spello
Piccolomini Library in Siena
Borgia Appartments in the Vatican
Various frescoes and panels



© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.