To explore the work and life of a great painter, we present an exhibition dedicated to Ambrogio Lorenzetti
Siena welcomes one of its greatest artists
This special exhibition of works by the fourteenth-century painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti sheds light on one of Siena’s greatest artists. Lorenzetti was one of the greatest exponents of the Sienese school of painting, and one of the foremost artists of the Gothic period. He is now principally known for his cycle of frescoes: “Allegories of Good and Bad Government and their Effects on Town and Countryside”, depicted on the walls of the Sala dei Nove in Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico. The exhibition can be seen at the Santa Maria della Scala complex until 8 April 2018, and traces the life and work of Lorenzetti through a series of paintings commissioned by the private citizens and churches of Siena. Many of the works on show are on loan from some of the world’s major museums, including the Louvre, the National Gallery and the Vatican Museums.
The course of the exhibition
The exhibition aims to illustrate the whole scope of Lorenzetti’s artistic work. The show was initially due to close on January 21st, but then extended by popular demand until April 8th 2018. Lorenzetti’s contribution to the history of art is not limited to the allegorical and symbolic content that typifies his frescoes in the Palazzo Pubblico; it also includes an innovative way of representing the human figure, depicting it with a humanity and a naturalness previously unknown. The exhibition traces the entire career of Lorenzetti, showing how his iconographic style evolved. To illustrate this, it makes use of cycles of frescoes reconstructed from a few remaining fragments. To complement the exhibition, visitors are allowed free entry to the Basilica of San Francesco and the Church of Sant’Agostino, where they can see some of Lorenzetti’s recently restored frescoes.
A break that focuses on history and culture
A visit to the Lorenzetti exhibition, one of this year’s foremost cultural events, can also offer the ideal opportunity for a short break in Siena, exploring the history and culture of its old centre. If you decide to stay in the centre, close to the Santa Maria della Scala complex, you can visit the exhibition and the churches with other Lorenzetti frescoes over the course of a weekend. You will also have time to see Siena’s other attractions, such as the famous Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico and the splendid Duomo. The Relais degli Angeli is a noble mansion right in the heart of Siena, which combines all the charm of a historic residence with modern comforts and services. It offers its guests a choice of rooms and suites decorated with frescoes protected by the Department of Cultural Heritage. The hotel is less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo and from Santa Maria della Scala, so you can easily visit the historic centre of Siena and see all the works by Lorenzetti currently on show in the city.