Ugolino di Nerio
Ugolino di Nerio (1280? - 1349) was an Italian painter active in his native city of Siena and in Florence between the years 1317 and 1327.
He was a follower of Duccio di Buoninsegna, from whose Maestà some of his scenes are clearly derived. He was a leading master who contributed to the spread of Sienese painting in Florence by earning commissions to paint in the two main basilicas there, Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.
Contents |
[edit] Biography and works
Nerio was born around 1280 in Siena to a family of painters. His father as well as his siblings, Guido and Muccio, were artists. His only signed work is his altarpiece for the main altar of Saint Croce, dated around 1325; the signature has been lost but is recorded by Vasari. The work was moved from the main altar in 1566 to make way for a ciborium designed by Vasari, and it was broken up and the surviving parts sold to W. Young Ottley, an English collector. Today the panels are scattered in several museums around the world; the National Gallery, London has eleven. Studies of this work have resulted in it being reconstructed.[1]
He emerges as an independent master around 1315, with some early paintings like the Madonna Contini Bonaccossi in the Pitti Palace, in a style drawn from that of Duccio, but from about 1320 aa distinct mature style emerges, spiritual and elegant. His choice of brighter colours is perhaps influenced by Simone Martini. The altarpiece for Santa Croce was the most important commission in a series of works that the Franciscans entrusted to him; at least eight polyptychs have survived in parts. Other important polyptychs are in the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts. His best known Madonna is in the Chiesa della Misericordia, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and there is one in the Louvre (illustrated above).
According to Vasari he died in Siena.
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ugolino di Nerio |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Davies has a lengthy account, pp. 108-113
[edit] References
- Davies, Martin. In: "National Gallery Catalogues: Catalogue of the Earlier Italian Schools". National Gallery Catalogues, London 1961, reprinted 1986, ISBN 0901791296
There is also a painting by this Italian Gothic painter in the National Gallery of Ireland(Dublin)("Propher Isaiah").
[edit] External links
- UK National Gallery, Picture library of some of the artist's works.
- Clark Art Institute, An altarpiece painted by the artist.
