Il Pergamo Scolpito In Marmo Da Benedetto Da Majano Nella Chiesa Di Santa Croce Di Firenze Espresso In Sette Tavole Disegnate Da F. Pieraccini E Incise Da G.P. Lasinio Con Illustrazione Di Ciascuna Tavola. Al Nobile Signore Giulio Orlandini Cavaliere E Priore Dell'Ordine Di S. Stefano.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
05/318
Imprint
Firenze: Presso Alessandro Bernardini, 1823.
Physical Description
[8] p., [7] pl.; 625 mm.
General Note
In some copies plates are un-captioned. In the Academy's second copy (in which the plates are captioned) pl. [6] (Martirio di cinque frati) is bound in before pl. [5] (Morte di San Francesco).
Contents
[T.p., dedic.] - Prefazione - [Plates].
Responsibility Note
All plates are signed as sculpted by Bened. da Majano, drawn by Franco Pieraccini and engraved by Lasinio Figlio.
Each one carries the publisher's imprint, 'Firenze presso Aless. Bernardini lungo l'Arno No. 1190'.
The book is dedicated by the publisher, Alessandro Bernardini, to Giulio Orlandini.
Summary Note
The work describes one of the masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture - Benedetto da Maiano's pulpit for the Franciscan church of Santa Croce, Florence; which was commissioned by the businessman, Pietro Mellini, and completed in 1485. Its five bas-reliefs show events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi.
The seven plates are explained in the Prefazione. In some copies they are uncaptioned; in others they are captioned as follows: [1] Veduta Prospettica del Pergamo; [2] Papa Onorio confirma la regola di San Francesco (1st bas-relief); [3] San Francesco passa in mezzo alle fiamme (unharmed, in the presence of the sultan) (2nd bas-relief); [4] San Francesco riceve le sacre Stimate (on mount La Verna) (3rd bas-relief); [5] Morte di San Francesco (4th bas-relief); [6] Martirio di cinque Frati dell'ordine di S. Francesco (in Mauretania) (5th bas-relief); [7] Figure allegoriche esprimenti la Fede, Speranza, Carità, Fortezza, e Giustizia (and a portrait of Benedetto da Maiano).
Three models for the sculptures are preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Copy Note
The upper cover of the Royal Academy's first copy carries a label inscribed in ink, 'Il Pergamo Scolpito In Marmo da Benedetto da Majano'.
Binding Note
[First copy:]19th-century black cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Il Pergamo Di Beno. Da Majano In Sta. Croce [Di] Firenze'.
[Second copy:] 19th-century half calf, red marbled-papered boards; rebacked in 20th century, black morocco spine-labels lettered 'Pitture Di Siena' and 'Il Pergamo Di Santa Croce'. Bound with one other.
Sculpture - Bas-reliefs - Pulpits - Italy - Florence - Santa Croce - History - 15th century - Renaissance
Saints - Italy - 12th century - 13th century
Saints - Iconography - Narrative art - Christian art and symbolism - 15th century - Renaissance
Art history - Italy - 19th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 19th century