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A long article
on Piero della Francesca in Peter and Linda Murray's Penguin
Dictionary of Art and Artists begins like this:
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| Piero della
Francesca (de' Franceschi) (1410/20-92), long neglected, is
now probably the most popular painter of the Quattrocento. This
is due to the mathematical perfection of his forms and to his
superb sense of interval, the whole giving a timeless
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| The itinerary for
this study holiday will be organised around several sites where
masterpieces by Piero are to be found: |
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Arezzo: the Church of San Francesco is the location for
what is probably Piero's greatest work, the fresco cycle
in the choir depicting the complex and mysterious story
of the True Cross;
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Sansepolcro (where the artist was born and often lived):
his powerful Resurrection and the Madonna della
Misericordia are to be found in the art gallery;
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Monterchi: home of the Madonna del Parto;
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Urbino: the Ducal Palace houses the National Gallery of
the Marche, including Piero's Madonna di Senigallia
and the Flagellation.
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| Experiencing these
celebrated paintings at our leisure will afford us the chance
to enjoy and assess Piero's particular place in the history
of western art. It may be possible to organise a study day on
his painting some time before next autumn. |
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| Though our focus
will be on Piero, there are many other things to enjoy in the
attractive medieval towns where his works are to be found. Arezzo
has an interesting cathedral with a Piero fresco of Mary Magdalen.
Also worth visiting there, is the beautiful church of Santa
Maria, which behind its fantastical Romanesque façade
houses an exquisite altarpiece by the Sienese artist Pietro
Lorenzetti. The Ducal Palace at Urbino, commissioned by the
condottiere Federigo da Montefeltro, is one of the most famous
examples of Renaissance architecture. Piero was only one of
many famous artists, scholars, writers and philosophers who
were attracted to this palace and its glittering court. It was
here that Baldassare Castiglione was to write the Renaissance
guide to polite behaviour called Il Cortegiano, 'The Book of
the Courtier', which soon after its publication in 1528 achieved
fame throughout Europe. |
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| Our centre for
this investigation of Piero's paintings will be the pleasant
small Umbrian town of Città di Castello, which boasts
two excellent museums. Our four-star hotel is in an old palace
in the medieval centre. From here we will travel by coach to
Sansepolcro (twelve miles), Arezzo (twenty-seven miles), and
Urbino (forty-seven miles). |
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| The tutor for this
study holiday will be Alice Foster, who has led many successful
Learn Italy trips to Italian cities, and is a frequent lecturer
for the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
and NADFAS. Martin Gray will be the tour organiser. |
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Per person,
single use of double room:
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| Per person,
sharing a double room: |
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| six nights bed and breakfast
in a four-star hotel in Città di Castello; |
| two evening meals; |
| lectures on the painting
of Piero della Francesca, and on other aspects of the
various places that we will be visiting; |
| entrance fees to museums
and churches; |
| travel by coach or train
to chosen sites around Città di Castello; |
| coach transfers between
an Italian airport and the hotel; |
| coach transfers between
the Cotswolds and Oxford, and a London airport (if enough
people are departing from the area). |
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| Flights from the
UK to Tuscany currently cost from about £165. When enough
people have subscribed to the holiday, suitable flights will
be chosen and tickets on these can be bought over the Internet
or from a designated travel agent; the price will depend on
when you choose to make your purchase, as prices are likely
to rise steadily. Further information about these arrangements
will be supplied on receipt of your booking form. |
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If you wish to
join this study week, please contact Martin Gray
at
01865 860984 or
enquiries@learn-italy.com
to receive a booking form.
Places on the holiday will be first-come, first-served,
based on receipt of the booking form and deposit.
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Guideline prices, excluding flights:
