Medieval Wall

Fresco-cycles in the Town Halls

In the late Middle Ages because of new kind of power in cities of Apenine Peninsula a new sort of architecture appears. This are town halls which are usually built as a gothic buildings. Through them cities showed their potency and knowledge dedicating special attention for decoration too. Walls were portrayed with frescoes on which we find subjects unknown in painting of 14 ct. It should be admonished that till then, art was mostly related with churches and so its subjects to a religious themes. Subjects found in this public buildings can be devided in few groups. First we have displays of different battles from historical to contemporary ones. Through them city showed its military power. In second group are displays of different allegories and personifications. Here we find displays of four seasons, the labours of the months and zodiacal signs. However here falls different displays of government where personifications of virtues and vices are displayed. In town halls we also can find some religious frescoes of saint patrons or Madonnas ( eg. Maesta S. Martini in Palazzo Publico, Siena ).

Sala delle Pace (Sala dei Nove)

Here we will review one of the most complex frescoes in the middle ages town hall. It is located in a room called Sala delle Pace, in town hall of Siena (Palazzo Pubblico). In this tract meetings of Nine were maintained – main Sienas governors, this also influenced assortment of frescoes.¹ It is good and bad city government and author is Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Work consists of three frescoes each on its one wall. These are The Good Government on east wall, The Good City on north wall and The Bad Government and City on west wall. The area of southern wall is opened by window through which view on Siena and surroundings is provided.

The Good Governement

Display of The Good Government consists of few groups of figures. On left side it is a group of Justice which consist of five figures.In the middle is Justice sitting on throne and above it Wisdom holds scales. On left and right side of Power are two angels which represents different kinds of justice. Two ropes descend from scale and they merge at third figure of this group which is Harmony. Here are presented the main principles of good government in a city, wisdom and justice of rulers and unity among citizens.

On the right side of fresco it is a second group of characters. In the midst of the throne seats Ruler in black and white dress, which represents the color of Sienic arms. On either side of the figure are six personification of virtues: Peace, Fortitude, Prudence, Magnanimity, Temperance and Justice. So displayed are virtues and principles required for good city government. Above the Ruler there are three hovering figures representing the theological virtues: Charity, Faith and Hope. The lower zone shows the procession of 24 citizens of Siena who are the guardians of its democratic government. In contrast to them on the right side appears a group of prisoners and their armed guards.There are further more characters on frescoes which actually show the characteristics required for good city government.

The Good City

On fresco The Good City a panoramic view of medieval town and its surroundings is shown. View of dome of the cathedral with black and white bell tower and brick buildings has many similarities with the Siena. Within the city a human activities that are necessary in well – kept city are shown, such as representations of different trades like builders on scaffoldings, or leisure time with group of dancers in foreground of fresco. On the right of the city a panorama of village and suburbs is displayed. Also a series of human activities related to farming and animal husbandry is shown. Above the village a personification of Security holding small gallows in one hand and scroll of text in the other is painted.

The Bad Government and City

In The Bad Government and City presented are negative counterparts to those on the north and east wall. This fresco is in very poor condition so its study is somewhat more difficult. It consists of two parts displaying personifications of bad city government and the specific situations of poor town and village. On the right side are displays of the seven personifications of vicious and bad principles. In the middle is the Tyrany with its demonic look. It is larger than other ones because it is presented as a pendant to the Ruler from The Good Government. Beneath her feet is a Justice that is associated with broken scale. Other personifications from left to right are: Cruelty, Treason, Fraud, Fury, Division and War. Above the Tyrany there are three more personifications – Avarice, Pride and Vainglory. In the bad town people are shown fighting and robing and only one person that works is a blacksmith making arms. The village is deserted and uncultivated and houses are on fire. On the same place where on east wall Security is personificated, here a Fear is shown as old skinny women threating with her sword to the village.

The Medalions and Inscriptions

These large images are framed in broad framework on which are quatrefoil medallions. There are also some more images which are related to the main ones. In the upper frame showen are personifications of seven planets, their zodiacal signs, the four seasons and heraldic devices of Siena and her political associates. On the lower side are personifications of the liberal arts, philosophy and tyrants from antiquity. Frescoes include a large number of texts that also complement the views. They are written in Latin and vernacular.²

Meaning of Frescoes

This frescoes have very complex iconographic program. It is believed that they are partly influenced by Aristotel papers but also by local political texts whose authors had more contact with Roman writers.³ Although a similar version of display of a Ruler was described by G. Vasari wrote about lost frescoes of Giotto in Palazzo del Podesta (now the Bargello) in Florence. It is considered that for these views Lorenzetti had no influence.⁴ It is also important that they are interrelated and together form educative story about what it takes and how should good government look alike.