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Comparably exceptional depictions of space are to be found only in two other collections: in Baltimore and Urbino. The unique quality of these three pieces within early Renaissance painting is constantly emphasized. They are seen as illustrations of constructions with a central perspective, of concrete town planning or also ideal variants on urban spatial organization formulated in a spirit of Humanism. In the case of the Berlin panel reference is also made to a concurrent description of piers and docks in Francesco di Giorgio Martini’s ‘Trattato di Architettura’. This piece was probably created in the cultural atmosphere of Urbino, where in the mature Quattrocento mathematics, painting, architecture and interior design were closely linked under Federico da Montefeltre. There are parallels with perspectives of this kind in intarsia work.

Details

  • Title: Architectural Veduta
  • Creator: Francesco di Giorgio Martini (attributed)
  • Date Created: around 1490
  • Physical Dimensions: w233.0 x h131.0 cm
  • Type: Painting
  • External Link: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
  • Medium: Oil on poplar wood
  • Style: Italian
  • Copyright Text: Text: © http://www.prestel.com, Prestel Verlag / Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Hannelore Nützmann // Photo: © http://www.bpk-images.de, b p k - Photo Agency / Kaiser Friedrich-Museums-Verein / Jörg P. Anders
  • Collection: Kaiser Friedrich-Museums-Verein
  • Artist information: Francesco di Giorgio Martini was an Italian painter and sculptor of the Sienese school. He is also known as a visionary architectural theorist. As a painter he was apprenticed to Vecchietta. He was initially active in Orvieto and worked in Siena from 1463. In 1490 he was awarded the commission to design the model for the cupola of Milan's cathedral. His compositions show an interest in mechanical elements and depict such things as gear wheels. His sheer versatility gave significance to his artworks. He is perhaps best known for designing Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio in Cortona (built between 1485 and 1515).
  • Artist Place of Death: Siena, Italy
  • Artist Place of Birth: Siena, Italy
  • Artist Gender: male
  • Artist Dates: 1439/1501

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