Deruta ceramics history: A Visit to the tomb of "Il Perugino"

Photo credit: Perugino, the last supper (detail),
1495, Cenacolo del Fuligno, Florence.

Some days ago I went to the town of Fontignano (Perugia district) on the way to Città della Pieve with the purpose of visiting the tomb of famous artist Pietro Vannucci known as "Il Perugino".

Pietro Vannucci spent the last decade of his life in the small town of Fontignano where he died of plague at the age of 78 in 1523. His last work of art was a Madonna with Child in the small Church where he is buried.

During working days volunteers will come and open the Church for you upon calling them on their cellular phone. They will give you a brief lecture and interesting information about the artist's life and work in Fontignano. This was such a treat! I loved it.

The fresco by Pietro Vannucci
aka "Il Perugino" dated 1477/1478 for the
Church of Saint Francis, Deruta.
A thank you gift to the Church for the end of the plagues,
called "ex-voto" in Latin. 

Additionally tomorrow Fontignano will start the celebrations of the festival "Fontignano at the table 2010" from July 16th to July 25th: great traditional recipes from the Renaissance, lots of people, music, dancing and fun!

At the time of Perugino the town of Deruta was a circle of very important persons, artists and politicians.  Perugino worked in Deruta on a beautiful fresco with the Saints Rocco and Romano, anti-pestiferous Saints at the time of the plagues. I can imagine Mr. Pietro Vannucci riding his horse from Città della Pieve to Deruta and visiting our beautiful town. Deruta is about 1 hour away by car from Città della Pieve.

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