"Sassetta and his time"

From March 15 to September 15, the Museum of San Pietro all'Orto in Massa Marittima will host an extraordinary exhibition dedicated to Stefano di Giovanni, il Sassetta, an original interpreter of Sienese painting between the Gothic and Renaissance periods.

The exhibition "Sassetta and his time. A look at early 15th-century Sienese art", takes its starting point from Sassetta's Announcing Angel, a work permanently on display in the museum, which will be accompanied by around 50 works from important museums in Tuscany and some private collections: 26 works by Sassetta and other works by artists active in Siena during the same period.

Also on display will be a very important "premiere", discovered by the exhibition's curator: a Madonna by Sassetta rediscovered under a 17th-century repainting, shown to the public for the first time.

Two new profiles of artists of Sassetta culture will also be presented for the first time: Nastagio di Guasparre, so far known as the Maestro of Sant’Ansano and the Maestro of Monticiano. 

Among the works on display, so far never exhibited to the public: a Saint Ansanus, drawn in the codex of the chapters of the Confraternity of the same name; a Flagellation painted on the cover of a volume of the Ufficio della Gabella of the Municipality of Siena, recently reacquired to the public heritage and lent quite exceptionally for this exhibition by the State Archives of Siena; a small sculpture depicting the Stigmata of St. Francis, which can be recognized as an element of a wooden choir carved by Domenico di Niccolò dei Cori.

The exhibition itinerary includes graphic reconstructions and captions with in-depth explanations to grasp Sassetta's refined style, the original form of the works and aspects related to the paintings' commissioning.

A variety of activities are planned during the exhibition period, suitable for all audiences.