Didattica: La pala d'altare

Summary

The video script explores the evolution of altarpieces, focusing on their various forms, from the traditional multi-panel structure to simpler rectangular and circular formats. It highlights famous examples like those housed in Florence, including works by artists such as Beato Angelico, Pietro Perugino, and Michelangelo. The narrative details specific altarpieces and tondi, their composition, symbolism, and the technical aspects of their creation. The script emphasizes the artistic innovations and the collaboration between master and pupil, such as the influence of Masaccio on his students, and the cultural significance of these religious artworks in the Renaissance period.

Takeaways

• 😀 Altarpieces (pale d'altare) are artistic works, typically placed on altars or in chapels, and can be painted or sculpted.
• 😀 Altarpieces come in various forms: a single rectangular panel (dossale) or multiple panels, forming diptychs, triptychs, or polyptychs.
• 😀 The altarpiece from the Church of Santa Margherita in Cortona retains a traditional multi-compartment structure, though it's in the rectangular form typical of Renaissance altarpieces.
• 😀 The central figure in the Santa Margherita altarpiece is the Madonna, who is offering her sacred belt (cintola) to St. Thomas.
• 😀 The lower part of the altarpiece, called the predella, is divided into panels that depict scenes from the lives of St. Thomas and the Virgin.
• 😀 The lively narrative style of the scenes allowed the artist more freedom in composition and invention, influenced by Masaccio's innovative style.
• 😀 Another altarpiece, from the Church of San Pancrazio in Florence, features a typical arched structure and is inspired by the work of Beato Angelico.
• 😀 The predella of the San Pancrazio altarpiece includes three scenes: the Annunciation, St. Michael defeating a dragon, and the Archangel Raphael guiding Tobias on his journey.
• 😀 The large altarpiece by Pietro Perugino, originally placed in the Vallombrosa Abbey, depicts four saints: St. Giovanni Gualberto, St. Bernardo degli Uberti, St. Benedict, and St. Michael.
• 😀 Perugino's altarpiece is praised for its harmonious composition and luminous color palette, and is thought to involve the young Raphael's collaboration.
• 😀 In addition to altarpieces, the 15th century saw the rise of the tondo (circular painting), a smaller and more intimate form of artwork, with Michelangelo's Tondo Doni being the most famous example.

Q & A

What is a pala d'altare and where is it typically placed?

A pala d'altare is a type of artwork, either painted or sculpted, usually placed on the altar of a church or chapel.

What are the different forms of a pala d'altare?

Pale d'altare can have various forms. Some consist of a single rectangular panel, known as a 'dossale,' while others are made up of two, three, or more panels, and are called 'dittici,' 'trittici,' or 'politici.'

What is significant about the structure of the pala d'altare from the Church of Santa Margherita in Cortona?

The pala d'altare from the Church of Santa Margherita in Cortona retains elements of traditional multi-part division, resembling a triptych, but it is in a rectangular shape, typical of Renaissance altarpieces.

What scene is depicted at the center of the altarpiece from the Church of Santa Margherita in Cortona?

At the center of the altarpiece, the Madonna is shown offering her sacred belt (cintola) to Saint Thomas.

What is the function of the predella in an altarpiece?

The predella is the lower section of an altarpiece, often divided into panels, each depicting various scenes from the lives of saints or other religious episodes.

How does the altarpiece from the Church of Santa Margherita reflect the artistic style of Masaccio?

The narrative style of the altarpiece, with its dynamic scenes, suggests that the artist may have been influenced by Masaccio's innovative approach to composition and perspective, as the artist was an assistant in Masaccio's 'Polyptych of the Carmine' in Pisa.

What is the structural and stylistic influence seen in the altarpiece from San Pancrazio in Florence?

The altarpiece from San Pancrazio in Florence follows the typical semi-circular structure, drawing inspiration from the 'Tabernacle of the Linen Weavers' by Beato Angelico, especially in its late phase, reflecting Domenico di Michelino's stylistic choices.

What does the predella of the San Pancrazio altarpiece depict?

The predella of the San Pancrazio altarpiece is divided into three scenes: the Annunciation in the center, Saint Michael defeating the demon (in the form of a dragon) on one side, and the archangel Raphael protecting the young Tobias on the other side.

What is the historical significance of the altarpiece by Pietro Perugino from Vallombrosa Abbey?

The altarpiece by Pietro Perugino, originally placed in the main altar of the Camaldolese Abbey of Vallombrosa, features four saints: Giovanni Gualberto (founder of the abbey), Bernardo degli Uberti, Saint Benedict, and the Archangel Michael, which ties the work closely to the abbey's history.

How does the use of color in Pietro Perugino's altarpiece contribute to its artistic impact?

The finely rendered colors and luminous finish of Perugino's altarpiece evoke a sense of harmonious tranquility, enhancing the spiritual and artistic quality of the work, which some critics believe may have been influenced by the young Raphael, who was Perugino's student.

What is the tondo and how does it differ from the traditional altarpiece format?

A tondo is a circular painting, often smaller in size compared to traditional altarpieces. It was inspired by the 'desco da parto,' a painted circular plate given to women after childbirth, and one of the most famous examples is Michelangelo's 'Tondo Doni' in the Uffizi Gallery.