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Learn Little-Known Art FactsAbout Artworks by Italian Artists Cimabue, Leonardo, and del PiomboWhich painting - from 1280, 1503, or 1517 - was carried through Florence, was stolen by an Italian nationalist, or was the first obtained by the National Gallery, London?
Q. According to art historian Giorgio Vasari, which painting “was carried to the sound of trumpets and amid scenes of great rejoicing in solemn procession from [the artist’s] house” through the streets of Florence?A. “The Santa Trinita Madonna” (c. 1280) by Cimabue.Thirteenth-century Byzantine artist Cimabue painted this stylized and beautiful Madonna on wood panel for the high altar of the church of Santa Trinita ("Holy Trinity") in Florence, Italy. Santa Trinita is the main church of the Vallumbrosan Order of monks founded in 1092. The church has about 20 chapels that contain a great number of master frescoes and paintings. Cimabue, the last of the great Byzantine painters, was the first to begin to break with the stiff formal arrangement and gestures of the subjects in Byzantine art and to introduce a more life-like and naturalistic feeling to his work. Cimabue is also well-known for the student he trained, Renaissance artist Giotto. Today the “Santa Trinita Madonna” can be seen in the Uffizi in Florence. Q. Which painting was stolen from the Louvre on August 12, 1911? A. “The Mona Lisa” (c. 1503) by LeonardoOn August 21st, 1911, someone stole the most famous painting in the world from the Louvre. According to author Seymour Reit, "Someone walked into the Salon Carré, lifted it off the wall and went out with it! The painting was stolen Monday morning, but the interesting thing was that it wasn't 'til Tuesday at noon that they first realized it was gone." At the time, the Paris Police blame the Louvre for its inadequate security and museum officials ridiculed investigators for failing to turn up solid leads. For two agonizing years the painting’s whereabouts remained unknown. Then in December of 1913 a letter arrived at the office of an Italian antiques dealer stating that Vincenzo Leonard had the painting and would return it after getting a reward of five hundred thousand lire and the assurance that the painting would never be returned to France. The stolen painting was eventually found in a trunk belonging to the thief in his humble rooms only blocks from the Louvre. The “Mona Lisa” rests again now in the Louvre in Paris where visitors can view the iconic painting today. Q. Which painting was the first picture accessioned by the National Gallery in London?A. “The Raising of Lazarus” (1517) by Sebastiano del Piombo.Sebastiano del Piombo (1485-1547) was an Italian Renaissance painter famous for his use of the vivid Venetian color palette. The subject matter of “The Raising of Lazarus” (1517) is Jesus visiting the grave of Lazarus, the brother of sisters Mary and Martha, at their request. When the painting was bought by the British government in 1824, the canvas was catalogued as NG1, making it officially the first painting to enter the National Gallery, London, where it can be seen today. Sources:
The copyright of the article Learn Little-Known Art Facts in Renaissance Art is owned by Suzanne Hill. Permission to republish Learn Little-Known Art Facts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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