Pinacoteca

The Pinacoteca has recently been reorganised in Palazzo Vescovile.  The ticket office contains copies of two important portraits of the condottieri, Erasmo di Narni, called Gattamelata (died 1443):

• a copy (early 19th century) of "A Warrior and his Equerry" (ca. 1509), a portrait generally attributed to Giorgione and thought to be of Gattamelata, which is now in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence; and

• a copy (late 19th century) in bronze of Donatello's equestrian statue of Gattamelata (1447-53), which stands in the Piazza del Santo, Padua.

Works from San Girolamo

The Pinacoteca houses two works that were removed from the Observant Francsicans' Convento di San Girolamo after the suppression of 1860.  Two other works (the Coronation of the Virgin from the high altar and a fresco of the stigmatisation of St Francis) are exhibited in the Sala del Consiglio, Palazzo Comunale.

This damaged fresco by Pierantonio Mezzastris, which depicts the Madonna and Child with SS Francis and Jerome, came from the lunette of a portal of the church.  The Pinacoteca also exhibits the decorative frescoed cornice of the composition.

These altarpieces are attributed to a follower of Pier Matteo d’ Amelia.  St Antony holds a flame that symbolises his eloquence and the Blessed Bernardino carries his usual attribute, the symbol of the Monte di Pietà.

Works from San Domenico

The following works were removed from San Domenico, which passed to the ownership of the Commune in 1867.

This double-sided panel by the Maestro di Narni del 1409 might have originally served as a processional banner.  It depicts:

• the Madonna and Child enthroned; and

• the Dormition of the Virgin, with her Coronation above. 

It was first recorded in 1872 in the sacristy of San Domenico, although this was not necessarily its original location.  It was restored in 1989.

This detached fresco fragment, which seems to come from a scene of the Coronation of the Virgin, is attributed to the Maestro della Dormitio di Terni. 

This detached fresco fragment, which is by a follower of the Maestro di Narni del 1409, depicts an intimate embrace between the Madonna and the baby Jesus.

This signed altarpiece by Benozzo Gozzoli was restored in 1988.  The foliage on the painted architecture at the centre of the composition is reminiscent of that on the Eroli arms, and it is possible that Cardinal Berardo Eroli was associated with the commission.  The panel, which was recorded in 1872 in the second chapel on the left of the church, was most recently restored in 2002.

Last Supper (16th century)

This detached fresco fragment was the righthand part of a scene that was originally in the right apsidal chapel.  It depicts six of the disciples, including Judas: St Jerome and his lion are in the lunette above.  The work has recently been attributed to Giovanni Francesco Perini.

Other Works

This altar was originally in San Martino di Taizzano, outside Narni.  It was found in a henhouse near the ruined church in 1956 and moved to San Domenico for safekeeping.  San Martino has been recently restored, and now has a copy in place of the original altar (see Narni News, 2nd November 2004).

Madonna and Child Enthroned (early 14th century)
This painted wooden statue came from Santa Pudenziana, Visciano (outside Narni).

This painted terracotta bust is sometimes attributed to il Vecchietta.  The inscription describes it as a "vero ritratto" (true portrait), suggesting that it was taken from a death mask.  It must have come from a Franciscan church, perhaps San Francesco or San Girolamo.

Resurrection (16th century)
This damaged but recently restored altarpiece, which has recently been reasonably securely attributed to Antoniazzo Romano, has a lovely cityscape of Narni in the background.  Its original location is unknown.

Annunciation (1559)
This large altarpiece, which is signed and dated, is by Livio Agresti. Its original location is unknown.

Read more:
A. Novelli and L. Vignoli, "L' Arte a Narni tra Medioeo e Illuminismo", Perugia (2004)

See also the website of the Pinacoteca. 

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