The Pinacoteca Comunale of

Città di Castello Città di Castello (); "Castle Town") is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of Umbria. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain along the upper part of the river Tiber. The city is north of ...

is the main museum of paintings and arts of

Umbria it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , ...

Italian Region, alongside the Perugia's National gallery, and it's housed in a renaissance palace, generally preserved in its original form.

History

The Città di Castello Municipal gallery is housed in the

renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

-style Vitelli alla Cannoniera Palace, home to the

condottiere ''Condottieri'' (; singular ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other Europ ...

Alessandro Vitelli Alessandro Vitelli (1500 - 1554) was an Italian condottiero in the service of the Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and cont ...

, grandson of Niccolò Vitelli, and wife Angela Paola de’ Rossi, nephew of

Giovanni delle Bande Nere Lodovico de' Medici, also known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere (6 April 1498 – 30 November 1526) was an Italian ''condottiero''. He is known for leading the Black Bands and serving valiantly in military combat under his relatives, Pope Leo X and ...

. It is among the main public art galleries in Italy, and documents art from the 13th to 20th centuries, focusing on

Renaissance art Renaissance art (1350 – 1620 AD) is the painting, sculpture, and decorative arts of the period of European history known as the Renaissance, which emerged as a distinct style in Italy in about AD 1400, in parallel with developments which occ ...

, and the very early works by

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual a ...

and

Luca Signorelli Luca Signorelli ( – 16 October 1523) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Cortona in Tuscany, who was noted in particular for his ability as a draftsman and his use of foreshortening. His massive frescos of the ''Last Judgment'' (1499–15 ...

. The collection is composed mainly by paintings derived from religious institutions suppressed in the 19th century after Italian unification, and also reflects the patronage of Vitelli family, prominent allies of

Medici The House of Medici ( , ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Mu ...

. Donations to the collection of later works, up to the 20th century, expanded the collections.

Palazzo Vitelli alla Cannoniera

Construction of the palace occurred mainly between 1521 and 1532, and completed in 1545 for the marriage between Alessandro Vitelli and Paola de’ Rossi. The palace faces a garden, that in the 16th century was famous in Europe due to its collection of exotic plants. In 1907, Elia Volpi, a local manager and artist who had previously worked on the restoration of the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence, acquired and restored this palace, donating it in 1912 for the city to house the Municipal Art Gallery. Rafael - Bandeira processional 2

The main façade is decorated with graphic scenes painted by Cristoforo Gherardi to

Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (, also , ; 30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance Master, who worked as a painter, architect, engineer, writer, and historian, who is best known for his work '' The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculp ...

’s design, with clear references to the names of the commissioners and their coats of arms, the palm of Vitelli and the roaring lion of Rossi, among rich decorative motifs of the 15th century as vases, masks and alchemic elements. The rooms are also richly decorated by Gherardi and Cola Dell’Amatrice, called by the Vitelli to celebrate the resident couple and the military prowess of the family, with vivid mythological places and some elegant figurations of pets, symbol of the domestic ambient. A monumental staircase which leads to the first floor with paintings depicting prince Apollo and all of the muses of arts, inspired by Ovid’s

Metamorphoses The ''Metamorphoses'' ( la, Metamorphōsēs, from grc, μεταμορφώσεις: "Transformations") is a Latin narrative poem from 8 CE by the Roman poet Ovid. It is considered his ''magnum opus''. The poem chronicles the history of the ...

Painting Collection

The oldest works in the collection are 13th century gilded works such as the majestic panel with ''Enthroned Madonna and Child with Six Angels'' by the Master of Città di Castello, a follower of

Duccio di Boninsegna Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ) was an Italian painter active in Siena, Tuscany, in the late 13th and early 14th century. He was hired throughout his life to complete many important works in government and religious buildings around Italy. Ducc ...

. The main collection includes Renaissance masterworks that highlight the connections of the Vitelli with Medici. The museum offers a number of

works, from works that show the strong influence of

Piero della Francesca Piero della Francesca (, also , ; – 12 October 1492), originally named Piero di Benedetto, was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. To contemporaries he was also known as a mathematician and geometer. Nowadays Piero della Francesca i ...

, to his '' Martyrdom of St Sebastian'', and a privileged view of the first activity of Raphael, who reached the status of "master" working in the city, as notable in the two facades of ''Standard of the Holiest Trinity'', the only one work left in Città di Castello, which many critics consider his first work. Other Florentine works include Domenico Ghirlandaio's ''Coronation of the Virgin'' and rich mannerism paintings by

Raffaellino del Colle Raffaellino del Colle (1490–1566) was an Italian Mannerist painter active mostly in Umbria. He was born in the frazione of Colle in Borgo Sansepolcro, province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. Biography He is also called ''Raffaellino della Colle'' ...

, Pomarancio and other coeval artists. The 20th century section hosts creations by

Giorgio de Chirico Giuseppe Maria Alberto Giorgio de Chirico ( , ; 10 July 1888 – 20 November 1978) was an Italian artist and writer born in Greece. In the years before World War I, he founded the '' scuola metafisica'' art movement, which profoundly influ ...

Renato Guttuso Renato Guttuso (26 December 1911 – 18 January 1987) was an Italian painter and politician. His best-known works include ''Flight from Etna'' (1938–39), ''Crucifixion'' (1941) and ''La Vucciria'' (1974). Guttuso also designed for the theatre ( ...

, Mario Mafai, and Carlo Carrà. In 2015 the Museum included a permanent collection of Nuvolo’s works, friend and colleague to Alberto Burri and global innovator in

silk screen Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink (or dye) onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open me ...

art. *Gothic art; Selected works (rooms I-II-III) **''Enthroned Madonna and Child with six Angels'' by Master of Città di Castello **''Enthroned Madonna and Child '' by Spinello Aretino **''Enthroned Madonna and Child'' by

Andrea di Bartolo Andrea di Bartolo or Andrea di Bartolo Cini (1360/70 – 1428) was an Italian painter, stained glass designer and Illuminated manuscript, illuminator of the Sienese School mainly known for his religious subjects. He was active between 1389–142 ...

**''San Bartolomeo Triptic'' by

Antonio Alberti Antonio Alberti was an Italian painter, active mainly in the 15th century in his native city of Ferrara, as well as Bologna and Urbino. Biography He painted portraits and sacred subjects. For the sacristy of the church of San Bernardino, outside ...

**''Enthroned Madonna and Child'' by

Antonio Vivarini Antonio Vivarini (Antonio of Murano) (active c. 14401480) was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance-late Gothic period, who worked mostly in the Republic of Venice. He is probably the earliest of a family of painters, which was descended ...

*Local and Tuscan Renaissance; Selected works (rooms IV-V-VII) **''Madonna and Child with two Angels'' by

Neri di Bicci Neri di Bicci (1419–1491) was an Italian painter active in his native Florence. A prolific painter of mainly religious themes, he studied under his father, Bicci di Lorenzo, who had in turn studied under his father, Lorenzo di Bicci. The thr ...

**''Christ with the signs of the Passion'' by an unknown 15th Century painter **''Coronation of the Virgin'' by Domenico Ghirlandaio and workshop **''Annunciation'' and ''All Saint’s Altarpiece by'' Francesco Tifernate *Renaissance/ Raphael in Città di Castello; Selected works (room VI) **''Banner of the Holy Trinity'', front ''The Trinity with Saints Sebastian and Roch'', back ''Creation of Eve'' by

*Renaissance/ Luca Signorelli in Città di Castello; Selected works (rooms XII, XIII) **''Saint Paul'' by

**''Martyrdom of St Sebastian'' by Signorelli **''Banner of Saint John Baptist'': front ''Saint John'', back ''Christ Baptism'' **''Santa Cecilia Altarpiece'' by Luca Signorelli and workshop *Tuscan and Roman Mannerism; Selected works (rooms XVI-XVII-XVIII) **''Annunciation by''

**''Deposition'' and ''Madonna and Child with Saints'' by Jacopo di Giovanni Francesco **''The laying of hands by Peter and John'' by

Santi di Tito Santi di Tito (5 December 1536 – 25 July 1603) was one of the most influential and leading Italian painters of the proto- Baroque style – what is sometimes referred to as "Counter-Maniera" or Counter-Mannerism. Biography He was born in Flo ...

**''Immaculate Conception'' by

Nicolò Circignani Nicolò () is an Italian male given name. Another variation is Niccolò, most common in Tuscany. It may refer to: * Nicolò Albertini, statesman * Nicolò Amati, luthier * Nicolò Barella, Italian footballer * Nicolò Barattieri, Italian enginee ...

, known as Pomarancio *From Seventeenth to Nineteenth Century; Selected works (rooms VI-XIX-XX) **''Two Saints'' by

Giovanni Battista Pacetti Giovanni Battista Pacetti, nicknamed Lo Sguazzino (1593–1630) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in his native Città di Castello. His nickname derives from the splashed on technique. He was prolific in painting altarpieces and ...

**''Saint Nicholas of Tolentino'' by

Ermenegildo Costantini Ermenegildo Costantini (1731 – 1791) was an Italian painter, active in Rome in a late-Baroque style. Biography He was a pupil of Marco Benefial. He painted frescoes at the Chapel of the SS Sacramento at Velletri, and at the gallery of the Pala ...

**''Domine quo vadis?'' by Francesco Mancini **''Madonna and Child, by''

Tommaso Conca Tommaso Maria Conca (1734–1822), was an Italian painter and draftsman, active mostly in Rome. Biography Tommaso Conca was born in Gaeta, one of the youngest of some eleven siblings, to Giovanni Conca and Anna Laura Scarsella di Castro. His ...

**''Madonna and Child'' by Vincenzo Chialli *Twentieth Century; Selected works **''Italy’s square'' by

**''Still life'' by

**''Seascape'' by Carlo Carrà **''Group in restaurant'' by Mario Mafai **permanent collection by Nuvolo

Sculpture and decorative arts

The sculpture section exhibits pieces from late Roman and middle age fragments to a notable group of

terracotta Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, and architecture, terracotta ...

by Andrea della Robbia and his workshop, which confirms the important Florentine influence on the area. The unique piece of Jewellery is the reliquary of Saint Andrew by

Lorenzo Ghiberti Lorenzo Ghiberti (, , ; 1378 – 1 December 1455), born Lorenzo di Bartolo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence, a key figure in the Early Renaissance, best known as the creator of two sets of bronze doors of the Florence Baptister ...

and his workshop, one of the museum peaks. The wooden furniture of the palace testify the great tradition of wood art in Città di Castello, starting from originals 16th century pieces. The passage to contemporary sculpture is given by Elmo Palazzi and Bruno Bartoccini stucco and bronze collections. *Selected works: **Unknown 15th century?, ''Baptism of Christ'' **

and workshop, ''Reliquary of Saint Andrew'' ** Andrea della Robbia and workshop, ''Assumption of the Virgin'' ** Elmo Palazzi, stucco collection ** Bruno Bartoccini, bronze statues collection

Events and expositions

Città di Castello Municipal gallery hosted many events like the national exhibition for the 500 anniversary of birth of Raphael in 1983, and the section of Luca Signorelli national event in 2012 focusing his activity in the city. The restoration of a wing of the palace permitted an opening to contemporary arts, with Nuvolo,

Josef Albers Josef Albers (; ; March 19, 1888March 25, 1976) was a German-born artist and educator. The first living artist to be given a solo show at MoMA and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, he taught at the Bauhaus and Black Mountain College ...

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the Art movement, visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore th ...

exhibitions and a series of events linked to Alberto Burri Birth Centenary. Many scientific activities were hosted as the important restoration of Raphael banner in 2005, for the London

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current Director ...

exhibition about the early production of the artist.

Between history and legend (Sora Laura)

Palazzo Vitelli alla Cannoniera has always been linked to the popular legend of Laura, or rather “Sora Laura”, who’s been said the lover of Alessandro Vitelli who preferred her to his wife. Bored for the frequent absence of the husband at war, she seemingly attracted good looking young men into her clutches by dropping a lace-edged handkerchief into the street and then killing them in a still existing, exit inside the building. In 2006, the artist

Milo Manara Maurilio Manara (; born 12 September 1945), known professionally as Milo Manara, is an Italian comic book writer and artist. Career After architecture and painting studies, he made his comics debut in 1969 drawing for ''Genius'', a Fumetti neri ...

paid his homage to this legendary woman.

Selected bibliography in English

*Bernard Berenson, ''Italian Pictures of the Renaissance'', Phaidon Press, 1963 *Hugo Chapman, Tom Henry, Carol Plazzotta, Arnold Nesselrath, ''Raphael: from Urbino to Rome'', National Gallery London, 2004 *Francesco Maria Mancini, Tom Henry, ''Gli esordi di Raffaello tra Urbino, Città di Castello e Perugia'', Edimond, 2006 (Italian/English) *Isabella Consigli, Silvia Consigli, ''Palazzo Vitelli alla Cannoniera'', Petruzzi, 2009 (Italian/English) *Tom Henry, ''The Life and Art of Luca Signorelli'', Yale, 2012

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinacoteca Comunale, Citta di Castello Art museums and galleries in Umbria Buildings and structures in Umbria Art museums established in 1912 1912 establishments in Italy Renaissance architecture in Umbria Palaces in Umbria