A trip around Sansepolcro Piero della Francesca in Italy
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Piero della Francesca was born in Sansepolcro, an old town 45 minutes by car from Arezzo. In this town, in what was once the town hall and is now the Municipal Museum, Piero's masterpiece "Madonna of Mercy" is located.
When I entered the museum first thing in the morning, I saw the Madonna in the second room, just like I had seen her before, with her cloak wide open, quietly watching over the people. It is rare to see a work with a gold background among Piero's works. The calm tone and divinity envelop the entire work. Her dignity shines in the darkness. The Madonna has a pursed mouth and sad eyes. She has an overwhelmingly beautiful and clear presence as the main character.
This work was commissioned by the local Misericordia Congregation in 1445 to be installed on the altar of a church, and was dismantled in the 17th century. The original frame was lost. However, it was moved to the Church of San Rocco to prevent the work from being scattered all over the place. The composition and arrangement of the paintings are different from the original, but I think they look more like Piero now than when they are framed in a shiny gold frame.
When you stand in front of the work, the combination of the "Madonna of Mercy" and the "Four Saints" panels creates a large unit, enhancing the weightiness of the work. Each painting seems to be somehow directed toward the Madonna in the center. I'm really glad that each piece didn't fall apart.
Also, nearby is the home of Piero della Francesca, which was designed by himself and has not been open to the public for a while.
The large window overlooking the rows of houses in Sansepolcro is wonderful.
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