''Decemviri Altarpiece'' (Italian: ''Pala dei Decemviri'') is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist

Pietro Perugino Pietro Perugino ( ; ; born Pietro Vannucci or Pietro Vanucci; – 1523), an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance. Raphael became his most famou ...

, executed in 1495–1496, and housed in the Pinacoteca Vaticana in

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

. The work was commissioned by the Decemviri ("Ten Men") of

Perugia Perugia ( , ; ; ) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. It has 162,467 ...

for the chapel in the Palazzo dei Priori, and was executed 1495 to 1496. It was originally surmounted by a ''Pietà'' (87 x 90 cm), now at the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria.

Description

The work portrays the Virgin on a high throne, with decorations and reliefs. Behind her is a bright landscape with hills. She holds the child in a position identical to that in the '' Fano Altarpiece''. At her sides are Saint Lawrence, Louis of Toulouse, Herculanus and

Constantius of Perugia Constantius of Perugia (also known as Costantius, Constance or Costanzo) (died ) is one of the patron saints of Perugia, Italy. Legend According to his legend, of which four versions exist, he was arrested during the persecutions of Antoninus ...

. The portico theme was typical of Perugino's late 15th century works, such as the '' Albani Torlonia Polyptych'' and the ''

Pietà The Pietà (; meaning "pity", "compassion") is a subject in Christian art depicting the Mary (mother of Jesus), Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the mortal body of Jesus Christ after his Descent from the Cross. It is most often found in sculpture. ...

''.

Sources

* {{Pietro Perugino Paintings by Pietro Perugino 1490s paintings Paintings in the Vatican Museums Paintings of the Madonna and Child Books in art Altarpieces category:Paintings of Saint Lawrence Paintings of Louis of Toulouse category:Paintings of saints