Polyptych, San Severino Marche
The Pinacoteca Civica P. Tacchi Venturi in San Severino houses a perfectly intact polyptych by Vittore Crivelli. It is divided into two orders of five compartments with a predella at the base. It is one of the most sumptuous polyptychs, considering the Gothic elements that give the work an extremely elegant upward sweep, the work of the woodcarver Domenico Indivini. In 1897, Ireneo Aleandri rightly compared the frame of Vittore's work with that of Lorenzo d'Alessandro's polyptych in the church of San Francesco in Serrapetrona.
Above the apical tabernacles of the frame are carved half-length figures, with God the Father blessing in the center and the prophets Daniel, Elijah, David, and Samuel on the sides.
The central panel depicts the Madonna enthroned with the Baby Jesus, accompanied by three angels, while the side panels are painted with the following saints: Severino, John the Baptist, Francis, and Louis. Saint Severino is the patron saint of the city and is depicted holding a model of the city. The upper register depicts the saints Mary Magdalene, Jerome, Bernardino, and Catherine of Alexandria.
In the central part, above the Madonna, there is a projecting tabernacle composed of three panels, with a dead Christ supported by three angels in the center and Mary and John the Evangelist mourning at the sides.
In the center of the predella is painted the Last Supper, which is divided by a group of saints: Agatha, Clare, Stephen, Cecilia, Lucy, Bonaventure, Anthony, Helena, Barbara, Lawrence, Ursula, and Bridget.
This work is linked to a document dated April 7, 1481, when the Observant Franciscan friars of San Severino asked the municipality to return 26 florins that had been lent by the convent to the municipality to pay for the foot soldiers to be sent to Città di Castello. This request was necessary because the friars had to pay Vittore Crivelli for his work, who was probably painting an existing frame, hoisted on the altar of the church, but not yet finished.
These are dynamics that often occur in the history of altarpieces, but in this case, this particular situation can be traced back to the importance of the woodcarver who was commissioned to do the carpentry. In practice, it was important for the Franciscans of San Severino to have a frame by Domenico Indivini, which would then be painted.
Vittore Crivelli
Polittico, 1481
Tempera su tavola
Ordine inferiore
Madonna col Bambino e angeli, S. Severino, S. Giovanni Battista, S. Francesco, S. Ludovico
Ordine superiore
Pietà fra la Vergine Addolorata e S. Giovanni, S. Maria Maddalena, S. Girolamo, S. Bernardino, S. Caterina D’Alessandria
Predella
S. Agata, S. Chiara, S. Stefano, S. Cecilia, S. Lucia, S. Bonaventura, Ultima Cena, S. Antonio, S. Elena, S. Barbara, S. Lorenzo, S. Orsola, S. Brigida
Dimensioni
Pannello centrale inferiore: 114×62 cm
Pannelli laterali inferiori: ciascuno 111×38 cm
Pannello centrale superiore: 48×62 cm
Pannelli laterali superiori: ciascuno 46×38 cm
Predella: 42×253 cm (compresa la cornice)
Pinacoteca civica “P. Tacchi Venturi”
Via Salimbeni, 39
San Severino Marche (MC)
Polyptych, San Severino Marche
The Pinacoteca Civica P. Tacchi Venturi in San Severino houses a perfectly intact polyptych by Vittore Crivelli. It is divided into two orders of five compartments with a predella at the base. It is one of the most sumptuous polyptychs, considering the Gothic elements that give the work an extremely elegant upward sweep, the work of the woodcarver Domenico Indivini. In 1897, Ireneo Aleandri rightly compared the frame of Vittore's work with that of Lorenzo d'Alessandro's polyptych in the church of San Francesco in Serrapetrona.
Above the apical tabernacles of the frame are carved half-length figures, with God the Father blessing in the center and the prophets Daniel, Elijah, David, and Samuel on the sides.
The central panel depicts the Madonna enthroned with the Baby Jesus, accompanied by three angels, while the side panels are painted with the following saints: Severino, John the Baptist, Francis, and Louis. Saint Severino is the patron saint of the city and is depicted holding a model of the city. The upper register depicts the saints Mary Magdalene, Jerome, Bernardino, and Catherine of Alexandria.
In the central part, above the Madonna, there is a projecting tabernacle composed of three panels, with a dead Christ supported by three angels in the center and Mary and John the Evangelist mourning at the sides.
In the center of the predella is painted the Last Supper, which is divided by a group of saints: Agatha, Clare, Stephen, Cecilia, Lucy, Bonaventure, Anthony, Helena, Barbara, Lawrence, Ursula, and Bridget.
This work is linked to a document dated April 7, 1481, when the Observant Franciscan friars of San Severino asked the municipality to return 26 florins that had been lent by the convent to the municipality to pay for the foot soldiers to be sent to Città di Castello. This request was necessary because the friars had to pay Vittore Crivelli for his work, who was probably painting an existing frame, hoisted on the altar of the church, but not yet finished.
These are dynamics that often occur in the history of altarpieces, but in this case, this particular situation can be traced back to the importance of the woodcarver who was commissioned to do the carpentry. In practice, it was important for the Franciscans of San Severino to have a frame by Domenico Indivini, which would then be painted.
