[MR] History Blog: Siena's 14th C Fresco in Restoration

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog's feature was all about the restoration of the 14th
century fresco, "The Allegory of Good and Bad Government".

The 1338 fresco was created by Ambrogio Lorenzetti for the Sala di Nove, a
chamber in Siena's Palazza Pubblico (city hall). The fresco is a rare
example of civic art at a time when nearly all painting and sculpture
showed religious themes. The huge panels depict the wonderful benefits that
come with good republican leadership (chiefly commercial, but most city
fathers who paid for the fresco were merchants), versus the nasty effects
of despotism and tyranny. It is interesting that even good government is
depicted with a hefty share of brutality, including beheadings and some
rather somber bound prisoners awaiting their fate.

I especially like the ghostly cat who is walking along a railing of the
gray building on the left side of the panel showing the effects of good
government. Perhaps the cat has just faded.

During restoration, docents will offer guided tours of the Sala di Nove,
and guests will be invited to climb the scaffolding to view the restoration
work up close.

The story is at http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/64174 .

More about the fresco and its meaning, including more illustrations, is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allegory_of_Good_and_Bad_Government .

A page on Ambrogio Lorenzetti himself is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrogio_Lorenzetti .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆