Piermatteo Lauro de' Manfredi da Amelia
Encyclopedia
Piermatteo Lauro de' Manfredi da Amelia (died 1503/1508) was an Italian
painter.
, in Umbria
.
He is first recorded as being part of the circle of Filippo Lippi
, active between 1467 and 1469, working on the decoration of the Spoleto Cathedral. From 1479 until 1480 he was in Rome
, where he was active in painting the Sistine Chapel
; he aided in creating the decoration of stars on the ceiling. From 1480 until 1482 he was active in Orvieto
, painting statue
s and decorating church fixtures and clocks. It was at this time that he did some work for the church of Saint Augustine, which pieces have since been removed and scattered among a number of collections. He returned to Rome, but was recalled to Orvieto in 1428 by the Council of Works for the Cathedral, and was commissioned to help decorate the San Brizio Chapel; in the event, this work was later offered to Luca Signorelli
. A fresco
in Narni
, depicting the Madonna and Child with Saints Lucy
and Apollonia
, has been dated to 1483. In 1485 Piermatteo was in Rome, working for Popes Innocent VIII
and Alexander VI
. Stylistically, his later works are similar to those of Antoniazzo Romano
. In 1497 he was nominated to the conservatory in Fano
; by 1503 he had been made superintendent of the Papal factories at Civita Castellana
.
Piermatteo is also known as the Master of the Gardner Annunciation for a series of works depicting the Annunciation
which were painted for the convent
of Saints Annunziata and Amelia; in 1880 these came into the possession of Isabella Stewart Gardner
, from whom the name comes. The anonymous painter was identified when the contract for the work was discovered in Terni
; it indicated that Piermatteo da Amelia was contracted for the paintings on September 23, 1483.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
painter.
Biography
Piermatteo was born at AmeliaAmelia
-Places:* Amelia, Umbria, a town in Italy* Amelia, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States* Amelia, Nebraska, an unincorporated community in Holt County, Nebraska, United States...
, in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
.
He is first recorded as being part of the circle of Filippo Lippi
Filippo Lippi
Fra' Filippo Lippi , also called Lippo Lippi, was an Italian painter of the Italian Quattrocento .-Biography and works:...
, active between 1467 and 1469, working on the decoration of the Spoleto Cathedral. From 1479 until 1480 he was in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he was active in painting the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
; he aided in creating the decoration of stars on the ceiling. From 1480 until 1482 he was active in Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
, painting statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
s and decorating church fixtures and clocks. It was at this time that he did some work for the church of Saint Augustine, which pieces have since been removed and scattered among a number of collections. He returned to Rome, but was recalled to Orvieto in 1428 by the Council of Works for the Cathedral, and was commissioned to help decorate the San Brizio Chapel; in the event, this work was later offered to Luca Signorelli
Luca Signorelli
Luca Signorelli was an Italian Renaissance painter who was noted in particular for his ability as a draughtsman and his use of foreshortening...
. A fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
in Narni
Narni
Narni is an ancient hilltown and comune of Umbria, in central Italy, with 20,100 inhabitants, according to the 2003 census. At an altitude of 240 m , it overhangs a narrow gorge of the Nera River in the province of Terni. It is very close to the Geographic center of Italy...
, depicting the Madonna and Child with Saints Lucy
Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy , also known as Saint Lucia, was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December; with a name derived from lux, lucis "light", she is the patron saint of those who are...
and Apollonia
Saint Apollonia
Saint Apollonia was one of a group of virgin martyrs who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius. According to legend, her torture included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered...
, has been dated to 1483. In 1485 Piermatteo was in Rome, working for Popes Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
and Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI
Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...
. Stylistically, his later works are similar to those of Antoniazzo Romano
Antoniazzo Romano
Antoniazzo Romano, born Antonio di Benedetto Aquilo degli Aquili was an Italian Early Renaissance painter, the leading figure of the Roman school during the 15th century.-Biography:...
. In 1497 he was nominated to the conservatory in Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
; by 1503 he had been made superintendent of the Papal factories at Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, 65 km north of Rome.Mount Soracte lies about 10 km to the south-east.-History:...
.
Piermatteo is also known as the Master of the Gardner Annunciation for a series of works depicting the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
which were painted for the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Saints Annunziata and Amelia; in 1880 these came into the possession of Isabella Stewart Gardner
Isabella Stewart Gardner
Isabella Stewart Gardner – founder of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston – was an American art collector, philanthropist, and one of the foremost female patrons of the arts....
, from whom the name comes. The anonymous painter was identified when the contract for the work was discovered in Terni
Terni
Terni is a city in southern Umbria, central Italy, capital of the province of Terni, located in the plain of the Nera river. It is 104 km N of Rome, 36 km NW of Rieti, and 29 km S of Spoleto.-History:...
; it indicated that Piermatteo da Amelia was contracted for the paintings on September 23, 1483.