Via Benedetta
corner Via della Scala
corner Via della Scala
the tabernacles of florence
THE TABERNACLE
Madonna col Bambino
The painting depicts the enthroned Madonna and Child between Blessed Urbano V pope and a holy bishop; a few letters of the incipit of the Ave Maria are still discernible at the bottom. The Madonna sits on a cusped throne with a polylobate base, while the Child holds a pomegranate, the traditional symbol of the Resurrection. Two cusped backs also stand out behind the figures of the saints, almost giving the effect of a triptych. The figure on the right could represent San Zanobi; the saint, well known and beloved by the Florentines, is depicted in his bishop's robe, with the mitre shod on his head, the crosier and a book in his left hand, but no specific attributes make identification with the beloved bishop of Florence certain.
Tabernacle
The fresco dates back to the late 15th century; it must have had a different form, however, as the current frame in pietra serena was added in the 18th century, at the time of the Salvetti property. The fresco has undergone a 20th-century makeover, and there are several repainting and consolidation interventions that have taken turns over the centuries. A greatly reworked tabernacle, therefore, whose events indicate that it was always considered very important.
THE STREET
Via Benedetta
The name of this street might seem mysterious, thinking of who knows what extraordinary event ever took place on this street to give it such an evocative name. Instead, it is likely that the very tabernacle with its fresco decreed the name of the street. It is a short side street of Via della Scala: the latter takes its name from the hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, founded in 1313 by Cione di Lapo Pollini.
AUTHOR
Botticellian Artist
(Late 15th century) At the height of his career, the amount of demand was so great that soon Botticelli was merely drawing the preparatory study and entrusting the creation of the works to his pupils. This explains the large number of artists who were inspired by his style to make their own works or remakes and copies.
The artist
(Late 15th century) The pose and robes, of the one believed to be San Zanobi, are almost identical to those of Sant'Eligio present in Botticelli's Coronation of the Virgin. Such correspondence can only confirm the stylistic attribution of our fresco to a Botticelli-trained artist. Botticelli's style underwent several evolutions over time, but fundamentally it retained some common traits that make it easily recognizable to this day.
Tibdit
The identification of the two saints in the painting proved rather difficult. The figure on the right is probably San Zanobi bishop of Florence. While, as for the figure on the left, many hypotheses have been made: The most credited are: Pope Urbano V, Pope Gregorio II and Pope Silvestro I.
GALLERY
Tabernacle
Via Benedetta corner of Via della Scala
Detail: Pope
Via Benedetta corner of Via della Scala
Detail: Madonna col Bambino
Via Benedetta corner of Via della Scala
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