Solov'eva Larisa

Sienese enamel art of the fi rst half of the XIVth century

Abstract

The article is devoted to the goldsmiths´ art of Siena of the first half of the XIVth century. At that time, the French Gothic style had maintained a profound infl uence over the fine arts of Italy. This influence, exercised mainly through manuscripts, made itself especially felt in the goldsmiths´ art. The XIVth century saw the prosperity of Siena Commune, which gave an extraordinary development of fine arts, especially goldsmiths´ art. Siena became an important centre for working in precious metals. At that end of the XIIIth century the goldsmiths of Siena invented a new technique of enamel - translucent enamel upon silver relief, famous for its color values. Translucent enamel medallions were used as decoration and as illustrations of iconography programs of the ecclesiastical items. Translucent enamel reached its zenith in the middle of the XIVth century. At that time the goldsmiths managed to enrich the range of enamel colors and tried to use translucent enamel as painting. In the middle of the XIVth century the goldsmiths created interconnected pieces of art, which combined jewellery art with painting, sculpture and architecture. For example, The Reliquary of the Holy Corporal from Orvieto Cathedral, made by Ugolino di Vieri, is formed like a miniature facade of Gothic cathedral. It is decorated with sculptured figures and 32 scenes given in translucent enamel. The Reliquary of the Orvieto Cathedral is a unique piece of art, where enameling is connected with sculpture and small architecture. Of interest, that Siena painting by Duccio and Ambrogio Lorenzetti influenced at art of enameling. Коды

Keywords

Sienese decorative art, translucent enamel, medieval chalice, reliquary, Gothic art, jeweler, ecclesiastical item, technique

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Information about the author

Solov'eva Larisa