Piccolomini pronunciation

The Piccolomini Altarpiece is an architectural and sculptural altarpiece in the left-nave of Siena Cathedral , commissioned by cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini who expected it to become his tomb. It was built between and by Andrea Bregno in Carrara marble, with additions in the following decades — these included four niche sculptures produced between and by Michelangelo of saints Peter , Augustine later resculpted as Saint Pius , Paul and Gregory.

On top of the altar is the Madonna and Child, a sculpture probably by Jacopo della Quercia. The central painting of the Madonna is by Paolo di Giovanni Fei and from the late 14th century.

Piccolomini meaning

The cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini , who became Pope Pius III, intended to construct a monumental altar to dedicate artworks to his uncle Pope Pius II , to celebrate the political and cultural power of his family, the Piccolomini , in Siena, and to establish a site for his own tomb. In reality, Todeschini was buried in the Vatican after his election as Pope.

Lack of available space, however, meant that the shoemakers still had to share the space with Todeschini. Todeschini commissioned Andrea Bregno to construct the altar. The original project included these elements but by , Bregno, now in his 70s, had a breakdown in his physical help.

Joachim piccolomini

He therefore returned to Rome, leaving the altar incomplete. From then on, only assistants from his workshop labored on the central marble altarpiece, that would enclose the Madonna of Humility. Given Bregno's departure, Todeschini began to look for sculptors that would be able to make the remaining 14 statues. In the end, he entrusted the work to Florentine Pietro Torrigiano.

The agreement between Todeschini and Torrigiano was broken for unknown reasons, which forced the Todeschini to find another artist. On June 19, , with the intercession of the banker Jacopo Galli, a contract was created with the young Michelangelo Buonarroti.