Deruta history: The Plagues

A detail of the fresco with the writing:

“DECRETO PUBLICO DE(R)UTA ANNO DNI MCCCCLXXV(II/III)"
(tr.public decree of the town of Deruta in the A.D. 1477-1478).

The last plague devastating Deruta in the second half of the 15th century dated back to 1476. The Deruta community celebrated the end of the sufferings with the order of a votive offering (ex voto) to the artist Pietro Perugino in 1477-1478 and portraying the Saints protectors Rocco and Romano, which are considered as anti-pestiferous.

The artwork is a fresco which has been in the Church of Saint Francis until recent times, when it has been detached and transported to the Deruta Painting Gallery. A beautiful band in the fresco portraits the landscape of the town of Deruta (see photo). 

It is also part of the recent history of Deruta the attribution of the fresco to Pietro Vannucci, known as "Perugino" by Professor Pietro Scarpellini, leading expert of Perugino's art and life and great professor of the University of Perugia. The painting was formerly ascribed to artist Fiorenzo di Lorenzo.

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Professor Pietro Scarpellini passed away in 2010 at the age of 83. He has been one of the most important scholars of the town and of the University of Perugia. He was my professor of Medieval and Modern Art.