Piero della Francesca (c.1415-1492)

Two frescoes of world-wide renown are just a stones throw from Caprese. Both are by the Fifteenth Century artist Piero della Francesca who was born in nearby Sansepolcro. Forgotten for centuries after his death, and only rediscovered in the early Twentieth Century, Piero is now regarded as one of the greatest artists of his time and a pioneer of perspective.

Although he studied in Florence and worked at the court of Federico da Montefeltro in Urbino for several years, Piero was a true Tuscan at heart and never really abandoned his roots, which is probably why he saved his best works for commissions in his hometown and the village where his mother was born.

The Madonna del Parto is now housed on its own in a converted 1930's primary school in the village of Monterchi, a little hill-top town nestling on the Tuscan/Umbrian border. It's original location was the chapel at the the cemetary where Piero's mother was buried, and has since been moved to Sansepolcro and Florence (for "safe keeping") before being brought back and now fiercely protected by the Monterchi comune. The pregnant Virgin Mary (a very rarely portrayed subject) is revealed to the viewer by two angels. Rather controversially, she looks rather uncomfortable with the unborn baby Jesus obviously causing her some discomfort. However she still possesses a holy serenity and looks out at you with confident surety. Generations of pregnant women have prayed to the image to bless their own safe births, and even now anyone mothers-to-be are allowed free access into the museum!

The Resurrection of Christ is perhaps one of the most haunting paintings I have ever seen. It remains in its original place on the wall of Sansepolcro's old town hall, now the town's main art gallery. Jesus is portrayed emerging from the tomb while his guards remain sleeping at his feet. Whilst triumpant in resurrection, Jesus is also full of pathos as he looks out at you with solemn intensity. The painting is full of mysterious secrets including a strange strange use of two vanishing points which makes viewing the picture quite disconcerting.

Also close by, the Church of San Francesco in Arezzo holds Piero's masterpiece, The Legend of the True Cross. The subject is a medieval legend of great complexity, but Piero made from its fanciful details some of the most solemn and serene images in Western art — even the two battle scenes have a feeling of grim deliberation rather than violent movement (almost as if watching the action in slow motion). This fresco cycle took over thirteen years to complete. Contrary to normal practice, Piero would often cover the plaster with wet cloths overnight, allowing him to continue work on the same sections for more than a day.

I will never tire of visting these paintings. Once seen, the mesmeric images, a combination of limpid beauty and passive power, will remain with you forever.