Recanati Polyptych
Encyclopedia
The Recanati Polyptych is a painting by the Italian Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto
, executed in 1506-1508 and housed in the Civic Museum of Villa Colloredo Mels, Recanati
, Italy. The work is dated and signed Laurent[ius] Lotus MDVIII.
Lotto began to work on the piece in 1506 as a devotional for the church of San Domenico in Recanati. By 1861 it was disassembled, by ws later recomposed and transferred to the Communal Art Gallery.
. The polyptych scheme, related to a 15th century old fashioned scheme, was perhaps chosen by the friars of the convent: Lotto anyway developed it into a single composition, at least in the lower panels, with a scene set under a loggia
with a coffered barrel vault
in center and two minor vaults at the sides, while in the background is a landscape representation.
The niches in the background, featuring Byzantine-style mosaics, are inspired by earlier works by Giovanni Bellini, while the checkrboard pavement is an example of knowledge of the geometrical perspective introduced by the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century.
The panels are:
The presence of Dominican saints is connected to the order who held the church, while Flavian and Vitues are the patrons saints of Recanati. Saint Dominic himself is portrayed in the central panel while receiving the white scapular
from the Virgin. Next to Dominic are two little musician angels, who are scared by him.
Lorenzo Lotto
Lorenzo Lotto was a Northern Italian painter draughtsman and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school. He painted mainly altarpieces, religious subjects and portraits...
, executed in 1506-1508 and housed in the Civic Museum of Villa Colloredo Mels, Recanati
Recanati
Recanati is a town and comune in the Province of Macerata, Marche region of Italy. Recanati was founded around 1150 AD from three pre-existing castles. In 1290 it proclaimed itself an independent republic and, in the 15th century, was famous for its international fair...
, Italy. The work is dated and signed Laurent[ius] Lotus MDVIII.
Lotto began to work on the piece in 1506 as a devotional for the church of San Domenico in Recanati. By 1861 it was disassembled, by ws later recomposed and transferred to the Communal Art Gallery.
Description
The polyptych includes a larger altarpiece in the center, flanked by two smaller ones in the same shape. At the top are two side panels with Saints, and a top rectangular one depicting the PietàPietà
The Pietà is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. As such, it is a particular form of the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion of Christ found in cycles of the Life of Christ...
. The polyptych scheme, related to a 15th century old fashioned scheme, was perhaps chosen by the friars of the convent: Lotto anyway developed it into a single composition, at least in the lower panels, with a scene set under a loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
with a coffered barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
in center and two minor vaults at the sides, while in the background is a landscape representation.
The niches in the background, featuring Byzantine-style mosaics, are inspired by earlier works by Giovanni Bellini, while the checkrboard pavement is an example of knowledge of the geometrical perspective introduced by the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century.
The panels are:
- Madonna with Child, Angels and Saints (center, 227x108 cm)
- Saints Thomas of Aquino and Flavian (left, 155x67 cm)
- Saints Peter of Verona and Vitus (right, 155x67 cm)
- Saints Lucy and Vincent Ferrer (upper left, 67x67 cm)
- Saints Catherine of Siena and Sigismund (upper right, 67x67 cm)
- Pietà (top, 80x108 cm)
The presence of Dominican saints is connected to the order who held the church, while Flavian and Vitues are the patrons saints of Recanati. Saint Dominic himself is portrayed in the central panel while receiving the white scapular
Scapular
The term scapular as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacramentals, namely the monastic and devotional scapulars, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular"....
from the Virgin. Next to Dominic are two little musician angels, who are scared by him.