Annunziata Polyptych
Encyclopedia
The Annunziata Polyptych is a painting cycle started by Filippino Lippi
and finished by Pietro Perugino
, whose central panel is now divided between the Galleria dell'Accademia
(Deposition from the Cross) and the Basilica dell'Annunziata, both in Florence
, Italy. The polyptych had other six panels, which are housed in the Lindenau-Museum
of Altenburg
, the Metropolitan Museum of New York
, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
in Rome and in a private collection in South Africa.
, who had executed a cartoon with St. Anne, the Virgin and the Child, before abandoning the work when he followed Cesare Borgia
(1502). The work was thus re-assigned to Lippi, who changed completely the theme. At his death in 1504 the painting, already completed in the central part, was assigned to Pietro Perugino
, who completed it, including the secondary panels, in 1507.
Once finished, the painting was sharply criticized by the Florentines, due to the alleged lack of originality of the composition. At the time, Perugino was often re-using the same cartoons, due to big number of commissions. The Annunciation altarpiece was thus Perugino's last work in Florence.
's collections, and then to the Gallerie dell'Accademia; the Annunciation remained in the church, and was later moved to the Rabatta Chapel. The polyptych had a frame designed by Baccio d'Agnolo
.
The Deposition shows the moment in which Jesus Christ is taken down from the cross after his death. Four men are carrying out the task by using ladders. On the ground, at the left, is the Virgin, fainting and supported by the other Pious Women. The character praying at the cross' feet is Mary Magdalene. On the right, caught in a surprised posture, is St. John the Apostle; in front of him, on the ground, are the nails of the crucifixion.
According to Giorgio Vasari
, Lippi executed the upper part of the painting. Jesus, left unfinished, was completed by Perugino in the face. The latter also painted the lower part of the work, characterized by his typical serene faces and the distant landscape. Perugino's assistants painted a great number of details, especially in the side panels.
The polyptych was completed by a predella, now divided between several American museums. It included:
Filippino Lippi
Filippino Lippi was an Italian painter working during the High Renaissance in Florence, Italy.-Biography:...
and finished by Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino , born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance...
, whose central panel is now divided between the Galleria dell'Accademia
Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze
The Accademia di Belle Arti is an art academy in Florence, Italy and it is now the operative branch of the still existing Accademia delle Arti del Disegno that was the first academy of drawing in Europe.-History:The Accademia delle Arti del Disegno The Accademia di Belle Arti ("Academy of Fine...
(Deposition from the Cross) and the Basilica dell'Annunziata, both in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy. The polyptych had other six panels, which are housed in the Lindenau-Museum
Lindenau-Museum
The Lindenau-Museum is an art museum in Altenburg, Thuringia, Germany.The museum originated as the house-museum of baron and collector Bernhard August von Lindenau. The building was completed in 1876....
of Altenburg
Altenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
, the Metropolitan Museum of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, or National Gallery of Ancient Art, is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, located on two sites: the Palazzo Barberini and the Palazzo Corsini....
in Rome and in a private collection in South Africa.
History
The work was originally commissioned to Filippino Lippi for the high altar of the Annunziata Basilica in Florence. Lippi had already ceded the same commission to Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
, who had executed a cartoon with St. Anne, the Virgin and the Child, before abandoning the work when he followed Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
(1502). The work was thus re-assigned to Lippi, who changed completely the theme. At his death in 1504 the painting, already completed in the central part, was assigned to Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino
Pietro Perugino , born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance...
, who completed it, including the secondary panels, in 1507.
Once finished, the painting was sharply criticized by the Florentines, due to the alleged lack of originality of the composition. At the time, Perugino was often re-using the same cartoons, due to big number of commissions. The Annunciation altarpiece was thus Perugino's last work in Florence.
Description
The work was originally painted on two sides: the Annunciation facing the faithful, and the Deposition from the Cross facing the choir. After the panel was split in two, the latter was moved in the Grand DukeGrand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
's collections, and then to the Gallerie dell'Accademia; the Annunciation remained in the church, and was later moved to the Rabatta Chapel. The polyptych had a frame designed by Baccio d'Agnolo
Baccio D'Agnolo
Baccio D'Agnolo , born Bartolomeo Baglioni, was an Italian woodcarver, sculptor and architect from Florence."Baccio"'is an abbreviation of Bartolomeo, and "d'Agnolo" refers to Angelo, his father's name...
.
The Deposition shows the moment in which Jesus Christ is taken down from the cross after his death. Four men are carrying out the task by using ladders. On the ground, at the left, is the Virgin, fainting and supported by the other Pious Women. The character praying at the cross' feet is Mary Magdalene. On the right, caught in a surprised posture, is St. John the Apostle; in front of him, on the ground, are the nails of the crucifixion.
According to Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:...
, Lippi executed the upper part of the painting. Jesus, left unfinished, was completed by Perugino in the face. The latter also painted the lower part of the work, characterized by his typical serene faces and the distant landscape. Perugino's assistants painted a great number of details, especially in the side panels.
The polyptych was completed by a predella, now divided between several American museums. It included:
- Nativity, 26.7x42.6 cm, Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of ChicagoThe School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/16205?search_id=1 - Baptism of Christ, 26.7x42.6 cm, Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/16197?search_id=1
- The Samaritan Girl at the Pit, 26,7x42.6 cm, Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/16200?search_id=1
- Noli me tangere, 26.7x42.6 cm, Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/16207?search_id=1
- Resurrection of Christ, 27x45.7 cm, New York, Metropolitan Museum http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/european_paintings/the_resurrection_perugino_pietro_di_cristoforo_vannucci/objectview.aspx?collID=11&OID=110001720