Vecchietta masterpiece goes back home on loan
09/04/10
A fifteenth century masterpiece on loan from Aberdeen Art Gallery has gone on show at a major exhibition of Early Renaissance Art in Siena, Italy.
The exhibition, Da Jacopo della Quercia a Donatello at the Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala is on now until Saturday 10 July 2010.
The Coronation of the Virgin, Annunciation and Crucifixion with Angels and Saints by Vecchietta (Lorenzo di Pietro di Giovanni), born Castiglione d'Orca, Italy (1410 -1480), was one of the first items to enter the collections of Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Although the gallery received the painting in 1899 the owner Georgina Forbes had decided to donate it some time earlier as a label on the reverse reveals: 'to be given at my death or my sister's to the new picture Gallery at Aberdeen Georgina E. Forbes 1883'.
This devotional triptych was only recently [September 2009] discovered to be a work by Vecchietta by experts Francis Russell of Christie's, the world's leading art auctioneers and Luke Syson the curator of the National Gallery's Sienese exhibition.
Lorenzo di Pietro di Giovanni, who was known from an early age as Vecchietta, or 'little old woman', was prominent as both painter and sculptor in Siena. First noted for his sculpture in polychrome wood, he later turned to bronze, influenced by the example of Donatello, who worked in Siena during the 1450s. Vecchietta also received commissions elsewhere in Tuscany and in Rome, which he visited at least twice.
In this triptych the Virgin holding the Christ child is flanked by St Francis of Assisi to the left and St Dominic to the right. Francis is identified by his brown habit and by the stigmata which can be clearly seen on his hands and feet. Dominic holds a lily, a symbol of the Virgin's chastity and a book - the Gospels.
The Christ child holds a small bird in his hands. The Virgin is crowned by two angels. Above this scene another depicts the Crucifixion of Christ and to either side of this the Annunciation is shown - with the Angel Gabriel on the left telling the Virgin Mary, on the right that she is with child.
This triptych relates the most significant events in the life of the Virgin Mary.
Art Gallery and Museums manager Christine Rew said: The recent attribution of the triptych to Vecchietta is a timely reminder in our 125th anniversary year of the generosity of our early patrons and their contribution to building the outstanding calibre and breadth of the Art Gallery's collections.
"I am delighted that we were able to lend the triptych to this important exhibition in Siena and promote more widely Aberdeen's fabulous collections. Visitors to Aberdeen will be able to see the triptych on display in the Art Gallery when it returns."
Vice Convener of Education, Culture and Sport Councillor Martin Greig said: "Aberdeen has some particular strength in its Art Gallery collection. The Vecchietta is a splendid work from an extremely influential period in art history. The painting fills a real gap in our civic collection. It is a good representative example of 15th Century Italian art. Obviously it will be missed when back in Italy but the loan highlights that this is a significant art work for Aberdeen to hold."