COPPO DI MARCOVALDO - b. ~1225 Firenze, d. ~1274 Siena - WGA

COPPO DI MARCOVALDO

(b. ~1225 Firenze, d. ~1274 Siena)

Italian painter, one of the earliest about whom there is a body of documented knowledge. He served in the army of Florence and settled in Siena after his capture at the Battle of Montaperti (1260). In 1261 he painted the signed and dated Madonna and Child Enthroned (called the Madonna del Bordone) for the Servite church at Siena, and in 1274 he and his son Salerno painted a Crucifix for Pistoia Cathedral; both paintings still remain in their original locations. On the basis of these documented works two other outstanding paintings are attributed to Coppo: a Madonna and Child Enthroned in Sta Maria dei Servi in Orvieto, and a Crucifix in the Pinacoteca at San Gimignano.

He introduced new solidity and humanity to the Byzantine tradition, in the way, for example, that he represents the Virgin with her head inclined towards the Child, and with Guido da Siena he ranks as the founder of the Sienese School.

Crucifix

Coppo was one of the most significant Florentine painters before Cimabue. His masterpieces are two large Madonna paintings, the Madonna del Bordone in Santa Maria dei Servi, Siena and another Madonna in Santa Maria dei Servi, Orvieto. His style is basically Byzantine, however, elements of realism and three-dimensionality can be observed in his paintings.

In this Crucifix, in the upper part a representation of the Ascension can be seen with a Blessing Christ on top of it. At the end of the left arm of the cross Madonna with St John, at the right the Pious Women are represented. On the background panel there are six scenes, the Capture of Christ, Flagellation, and Preparation of the Cross on the left, Christ before the Judges, Mocking of Christ and Deposition on the right, respectively.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 12 minutes):

Gregorian chants

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Madonna and Child

Coppo follows traditional Byzantine representations in showing the Virgin seated on a throne, crowned as Queen of Heaven and holding her son upon her knee, his hand raised in blessing. Her sad expression is a reference to the suffering sand death of Christ.

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Madonna del Bordone

After the victory at Montaperti (on September 4, 1260) of the Ghibellines of Siena against the Guelfs of Florence, the Servites in Siena (Ghibellines fled from Florence) commissioned Coppo to paint this Madonna for the high altar of their church.

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St Francis and Twenty Episodes from his Life

The large panel on the altar of the Bardi Chapel in Santa Croce was attributed to Cimabue. However, most recent studies attribute the panel to the mysterious Master of San Francesco Bardi or Coppo di Marcovaldo with whom the anonymous master is perhaps identical.

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Virgin in Majesty

This large panel above the altar of the left transept chapel contains one of the most impressive manifestations of medieval statuary. Its painted part is attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo, the panel itself is from the 12th century.

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