Palazzo dei Priori

Sala dei Notai

This first floor room was originally the Sala del Consiglio, the room used for meetings of the Council that advised the Capitano del Popolo.   It was re-designated as the Sala dei Notai in 1583, when it became the premises of the Collegio dei Notai (the guild of public notaries).

The room is spanned by eight huge wooden arches that support the ceiling.  

Frescoes (1298-1300)

The frescoes on the spandrels of the arches are usually are attributed to the workshop of the Roman artist Pietro Cavallini.  The date of their execution can be deduced from two coats of arms:

• those represented five times on the frescoes nearest to the back wall are those of Bonifacio Boiardi, who was Capitano del Popolo in 1298; and
  

• those represented four times on the frescoes nearest to the entrance are those of Schiatta dei Cancellieri, who was Capitano del Popolo in 1299/1300. 

The subjects depicted include:

• scenes from the Old Testament;

• a series that seem to depict scenes from Aesop's fables; and

• a series that probably represents scenes of knightly chivalry.

Photograph by Giovanni dall' Orto, from Wikimedia

The arms of serving Podestà and Capitani del Popolo were routinely added to the collection that covers the walls until the mid-15th century.  The earliest to survive (to the left of the entrance) are those of Tavena dei Tolomei de Siena, Podesta in 1296/7.

Return to the tour around Palazzo dei Priori.