Filippo Lippi: Sicut salvavit cervus Sanctum Stephanum.

The famous Madonna

by Filippo Lippi

simplified and used 
as a model for

ceramics reproductions
in Deruta.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

We take inspiration from the Siena pattern, the deer and the Biblical Psalm to invite our readers to visit the Cathedral of Prato, in the occasion of an interesting exhibition in this town about the correspondances of arts in the Renaissance.

The Cathedral of Prato is a wonderful example of Renaissance Art. It is dedicated to Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen) and its walls are painted with the stories of this Saint (fresco cycle).

In particular the story says that a female deer  saved the life of Saint Stephen as a newborn when the Devil exchanged him in his cradle at home with one of his devils and carried the Saint to the woods to die.

The paintings of the Stories of Saint Stephen are by Filippo Lippi who worked in Prato from 1452 to 1465. These frescoes were recently restored (2001-2006) by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

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Prato is famous for its fabrics: Now exhibiting at the Fabrics Museum : "Ceramics and fabrics. Dialogue between Renaissance Arts in Tuscany", until February 28th, 2011. online:  www.museodeltessuto.it (facebook/museodeltessuto).

Sicut salvavit cervus Sanctum Stephanum (tr. the same way the deer saved Saint Stephen) is a free adaptation of  the Biblical Psalm "sicut Cervus ad fontem" of the Siena pattern.