 |
Lippo MemmyItalian artist, Siena school.
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Lippo Memmi: A Master of the Sienese School
- Notable Works and Influences
- Frescoes in San Gimignano
- Later Works and Legacy
Lippo Memmi: A Master of the Sienese School
Early Life and InfluencesBorn into an artistic family, Lippo Memmi likely received his early training in the workshop of his father, Memmo di Filippuccio. However, it was the influence of Simone Martini that had a profound impact on his artistic development. By 1315, Memmi is thought to have worked alongside Martini on the "Maestà" fresco in the Siena Town Hall. In 1324, Martini married Memmo di Filippuccio's daughter, Giovanna, further solidifying their artistic collaboration.
Notable Works and Influences
Memmi's first signed and dated work is the monumental fresco "Maestà" (1317) in the town hall of San Gimignano. It echoes Martini's similar fresco from two years earlier, featuring a canopy to create an illusion of three-dimensional space. Around 1320, Memmi painted the "Madonna della Misericordia" ("Madonna of the Intercessors") for the cathedral in Orvieto.
In 1323, Memmi is credited with painting the "Triumph of St. Thomas Aquinas" for the church of Santa Caterina in Pisa. This work, depicting the Dominican philosopher as a богоподобный wise man, is symbolic of the Dominican order's embrace of artistic innovations inspired by the Franciscan order (e.g., Giotto).
Memmi also produced several notable paintings of the Madonna and Child, including the "Madonna with Child" (ca. 1325-30) for the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi in Siena. In 1333, he collaborated with Martini on the "Annunciation" for the cathedral in Siena, now housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Frescoes in San Gimignano
Memmi's largest work is the fresco cycle in the Collegiata Santa Maria Assunta in San Gimignano, the city's main church. Art historian Giorgio Vasari initially attributed the frescoes to a certain Barna da Siena, but scholars now believe Memmi created them between 1330 and 1350. The frescoes depict 26 scenes from the life of Christ and exhibit a strong influence from Simone Martini's style, especially in the elongated, graceful figures.
Later Works and Legacy
In the 1340s, Memmi produced several notable works, including the "Crucifixion" in the Louvre and the "Assumption of Mary" in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. In 1347, he traveled to Avignon with his brother Federico to decorate the Franciscan church there. He returned to Siena later that year and is believed to have continued working in the city until his death around 1350.
Lippo Memmi's works are characterized by their elegant and refined style, often with long, flowing figures and an emphasis on emotion and expression. He played a significant role in the development of the Sienese school and his legacy continues to inspire artists to this day.
