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 Apennine Mountains, Apennines, on the flood plain along the upper part of the river Tiber. T ...

is the main museum of paintings and arts of

Umbria Umbria ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Cascata delle Marmore, Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the Tiber. It is the only landlocked region on the Italian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula. The re ...

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 ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

-style Vitelli alla Cannoniera Palace, home to the

condottiere Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...

Alessandro Vitelli Alessandro Vitelli (1500 – 1554) was an Italian condottiero in the service of the Holy Roman Empire, the Papal States and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was an illegitimate son of Paolo Vitelli and the second husband of Angela de' Rossi. He ...

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

Giovanni delle Bande Nere Ludovico 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 third cousins, Pope Leo ...

. 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) 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 occurr ...

, and the very early works by

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

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 The unification of Italy ( ), also known as the Risorgimento (; ), was the 19th century political and social movement that in 1861 ended in the annexation of various states of the Italian peninsula and its outlying isles to the Kingdom of ...

, and also reflects the patronage of

Vitelli family The House of Vitelli, among other families so named, were a prominent noble family of Umbria, rulers of Città di Castello and lesser '' rocche''. History In spite of ambitious genealogies, there is no demonstrable connection with the ancient ...

, prominent allies of

Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...

. 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 Palazzo Davanzati is a palace in Florence, Italy. It houses the Museum of the Old Florentine House. History Palazzo Davanzati was erected in the second half of the 14th century by the Davizzi family, who were wealthy members of the wool guild. In ...

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 Cristofano or Cristoforo Gherardi, also known as il Doceno, (November 25, 1508 – April 1556) was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance or Mannerist Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian ...

Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance painter, architect, art historian, and biographer who is best known for his work ''Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'', considered the ideol ...

’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'' (, , ) is a Latin Narrative poetry, narrative poem from 8 Common Era, CE by the Ancient Rome, Roman poet Ovid. It is considered his ''Masterpiece, magnum opus''. The poem chronicles the history of the world from its Cre ...

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 Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

, a follower of

Duccio di Boninsegna Duccio di Buoninsegna ( , ; – ), commonly known as just Duccio, 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 religi ...

. 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 ( , ; ; ; – 12 October 1492) was an Italian Renaissance painter, Italian painter, mathematician and List of geometers, geometer of the Early Renaissance, nowadays chiefly appreciated for his art. His painting is charact ...

, 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 Domenico di Tommaso Curradi di Doffo Bigordi (2 June 1448 – 11 January 1494), professionally known as Domenico Ghirlandaio (also spelt as Ghirlandajo), was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Florence. Ghirlandaio was part of the so-c ...

's ''Coronation of the Virgin'' and rich

mannerism Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it ...

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 art movement, which profoundly influenced the surrealists. His ...

Renato Guttuso Aldo Renato Guttuso (26 December 1911 – 18 January 1987) was an Italian painter and politician. He is considered to be among the most important Italian artists of the 20th century and is among the key figures of Italian expressionism. His art i ...

, Mario Mafai, and

Carlo Carrà Carlo Carrà (; February 11, 1881 – April 13, 1966) was an Italian painter and a leading figure of the Futurist movement that flourished in Italy during the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to his many paintings, he wrote a number ...

. In 2015 the Museum included a permanent collection of Nuvolo’s works, friend and colleague to

Alberto Burri Alberto Burri (12 March 191513 February 1995; ) was an Italian visual artist, painter, sculptor, and physician based in Città di Castello. He is associated with the matterism of the European informal art movement and described his style as ...

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 in a "flood stroke" ...

art. *Gothic art; Selected works (rooms I-II-III) **''Enthroned Madonna and Child with six Angels'' by

**''Enthroned Madonna and Child '' by

Spinello Aretino Spinello Aretino (c. 1350 – c. 1410) was an Italian Painting, painter from Arezzo, who was active in Tuscany at the end of the 14th and the first decade of the 15th century.Andrea di Bartolo Andrea di Bartolo or Andrea di Bartolo Cini (1360/70 – 1428) was an Italian painter, stained glass designer and illuminator of the Sienese School mainly known for his religious subjects. He was active between 1389–1428 in the area in and a ...

**''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 three ...

**''Christ with the signs of the Passion'' by an unknown 15th Century painter **''Coronation of the Virgin'' by

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 Sa ...

**''Immaculate Conception'' by Nicolò Circignani, 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 **''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

**''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, also known as terra cotta or terra-cotta (; ; ), is a clay-based non-vitreous ceramic OED, "Terracotta""Terracotta" MFA Boston, "Cameo" database fired at relatively low temperatures. It is therefore a term used for earthenware obj ...

Andrea della Robbia Andrea della Robbia (20 October 14354 August 1525) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. Biography Born in Florence, Robbia was the son of Marco della Robbia, whose brother, Luca della Robbia, popularized the use of g ...

and his workshop, which confirms the important Florentine influence on the area. The unique piece of Jewelry 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'' **

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 American artist and Visual arts education, educator who is considered one of the most influential 20th-century art teachers in the United States. Born in 1888 in Bottrop, Westp ...

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...

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 more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current di ...

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 and galleries established in 1912 1912 establishments in Italy Renaissance architecture in Umbria Palaces in Umbria