Famous people of SienaSANTA CATERINA DA SIENA
Saint Catherine
of Siena is undoubtedly one of Siena’s
best renowned celebrities. She was born on March 25th,
1347 (Annunciation Day). The daughter of a cloth dyer, she had her
first visions at the age of 5 and took the veil when she was 8.
Catherine undertook her mission in Siena right at the end of a
pestilence and she dedicated to the ill and the poor. She also
dedicated much of her life to politics. Saint Catherine died in Rome
in 1380 and Pope Pius II canonized her in 1460. Since 1939 Saint
Catherine of Siena has been the saint patron of Italy together with
Saint Francis.
GUIDO DA SIENA
Guido da Siena
founded the famous Sienese school of painting. Almost nothing is
known about him and many events of his life are enfolded in mystery.
One of his paintings certainly adorns the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena. The
painting is dated 1221 but some scholars and critics think that the
date has been altered: according to them it was painted between 1260
and 1270, a period in which Guido da Siena certainly painted other
works of art.
AMBROGIO LORENZETTI
Ambrogio Lorenzetti is one of Siena’s most
renowned celebrities. Between 1320 and 1340 he lived in Florence,
where he could admire the paintings by Giotto and his pupils. His
most famous work is Effects of Good
Government on Town and Country, which
adorns the Palazzo Pubblico. A beautiful altarpiece by Ambrogio
Lorenzetti is in Massa Marittima.
SIMONE MARTINI
Simone Martini
is certainly Siena’s most important painter. He was a pupil of
Duccio di Buoninsegna and his work shows the influence of Giovanni
Pisano. The first painting of his great career is the Maestà
in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. He soon garnered accolades and the
king of Naples, Roberto d’Angiò, commissioned him various
frescoes. In the Lower Basilica in Assisi he painted a cycle of
Histories of Saint Martin.
Another important work is the sumptuous Annunciation
housed in the Duomo of Siena.
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