Re: A Month in Bella Italia
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:57 am
Still in the catherdal...
The hexagonal dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern, like a golden sun. The trompe l'oeil coffers were painted in blue with golden stars in the late 15th century.
Saints Jerome and Mary Magdalen are two sculptures by Gianlorenzo Bernini. They sit in the Chigi Chapel. The statues were commissioned as part of the chapel by the then pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi). Work began on the sculptures in 1661 and they were delivered from Rome to Siena in 1663.
The pulpit is made of Carrara marble and was sculpted between the end of 1265 and November 1268 by Nicola Pisano and several other artists. The whole message of the pulpit is concerned with the doctrine of Salvation and the Last Judgment. The pulpit itself is the earliest remaining work in the cathedral. The staircase dates from 1543 and was built by Bartolomeo Neroni. At the same time, the pulpit was moved from the choir to its present location.
Adjoining the cathedral is the Piccolomini Library, housing precious illuminated choir books and frescoes painted by Bernardino di Betto, called Pinturicchio, probably based on designs by Raphael.
The visual impact of these very colourful frescoes is stunning. The frescoes tell the story of the life of Siena's favourite son, cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who eventually became Pope Pius II. The ceiling is covered with painted panels of mythological subjects. They were executed between 1502 and 1503 by Pinturicchio and his assistants.
Pinturicchio painted the cycle of frescoes around the library between 1502 and 1507, representing Raphael and himself in several of them. This masterpiece is full of striking detail and vivacious colours. Each scene is explained in Latin by the text below. They depict ten remarkable events from the secular and religious career of pope Pius II, first as a high prelate, then bishop, a cardinal and ultimately pope.
Beneath the frescoes, the psalters of the cathedral's sacristy are on display. These exquisite illuminations by Liberale da Verona and Girolamo da Cremona were executed between 1466 and 1478 and later carried on by other Sienese illuminators.
After about 2 hours we left the cathedral to continue exploring Siena. There are artisinal shops all over the place.
Wild boars are highly widespread throughout Tuscany, and you won't walk far without seeing a boar's head on display. In Tuscany, wild boar hunting is both a tradition and a passion. The Hunting season changes depending on the area and runs from October to late January, only in areas and allowed days.
The hexagonal dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern, like a golden sun. The trompe l'oeil coffers were painted in blue with golden stars in the late 15th century.
- 118.JPG (197.72 KiB) Viewed 371 times
Saints Jerome and Mary Magdalen are two sculptures by Gianlorenzo Bernini. They sit in the Chigi Chapel. The statues were commissioned as part of the chapel by the then pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi). Work began on the sculptures in 1661 and they were delivered from Rome to Siena in 1663.
- 134.JPG (152.83 KiB) Viewed 371 times
- 136.JPG (139.42 KiB) Viewed 371 times
The pulpit is made of Carrara marble and was sculpted between the end of 1265 and November 1268 by Nicola Pisano and several other artists. The whole message of the pulpit is concerned with the doctrine of Salvation and the Last Judgment. The pulpit itself is the earliest remaining work in the cathedral. The staircase dates from 1543 and was built by Bartolomeo Neroni. At the same time, the pulpit was moved from the choir to its present location.
- 173.JPG (214.58 KiB) Viewed 371 times
Adjoining the cathedral is the Piccolomini Library, housing precious illuminated choir books and frescoes painted by Bernardino di Betto, called Pinturicchio, probably based on designs by Raphael.
The visual impact of these very colourful frescoes is stunning. The frescoes tell the story of the life of Siena's favourite son, cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who eventually became Pope Pius II. The ceiling is covered with painted panels of mythological subjects. They were executed between 1502 and 1503 by Pinturicchio and his assistants.
- 180.JPG (243.35 KiB) Viewed 371 times
Pinturicchio painted the cycle of frescoes around the library between 1502 and 1507, representing Raphael and himself in several of them. This masterpiece is full of striking detail and vivacious colours. Each scene is explained in Latin by the text below. They depict ten remarkable events from the secular and religious career of pope Pius II, first as a high prelate, then bishop, a cardinal and ultimately pope.
- 182.JPG (243.77 KiB) Viewed 371 times
Beneath the frescoes, the psalters of the cathedral's sacristy are on display. These exquisite illuminations by Liberale da Verona and Girolamo da Cremona were executed between 1466 and 1478 and later carried on by other Sienese illuminators.
- 179.JPG (148 KiB) Viewed 371 times
- 192.JPG (173.99 KiB) Viewed 371 times
After about 2 hours we left the cathedral to continue exploring Siena. There are artisinal shops all over the place.
- 211.JPG (200 KiB) Viewed 371 times
Wild boars are highly widespread throughout Tuscany, and you won't walk far without seeing a boar's head on display. In Tuscany, wild boar hunting is both a tradition and a passion. The Hunting season changes depending on the area and runs from October to late January, only in areas and allowed days.
- 213.JPG (162.66 KiB) Viewed 371 times
We bought bus tickets to get back to the train station but forgot to validate the tickets on the bus. Just our luck an inspector got on and asked to see our tickets. He fined us the equivalent of R1500.00!! 
