GIOTTESQUE PAINTERS IN THE VALDELSA / Seguaci di Giotto in Valdelsa
September 25, 2021 to January 6, 2022
Museo di Arte Sacra a Montespertoli, San Piero in Mercato, Toscana, Italy
As part of the "Terre degli Uffizi" program, two small gold-ground panels depicting the Madonna with Child by Lippo di Benivieni—a follower of Giotto—were displayed side-by-side for the very first time: one from the Uffizi Galleries, the other from the local museum in Montespertoli. The exhibition shed light on how Giotto’s style radiated beyond the Elsa Valley during the 14th century.
Small but exquisite: This exhibition demonstrates how gold-ground painting functioned within the workshop practices of the Trecento. Lippo di Benivieni is no superstar—yet he serves as an outstanding witness to how the visual language of the Giottesque style spread throughout the provinces. This is art history at the grassroots level—devoid of hype, yet rich in genuine attention to craftsmanship. An absolute must for anyone wishing to look beyond the established canon.
