The Importance of Being Earnest

St.Sebastian by Pietro Perugino (1448-1523), ca. 1495
On the arrow the classical writing in Latin:
"Petrus perusinus pinxit" (tr. painted by Pietro Perugino).

We may find the image of St. Sebastian in many churches in Umbria. He is among the most popular icons of Italian art history and of the history of the Catholic Church (he is the third most important Saint of the Church of Rome, after St. Peter and St. Paul) probably because he was considered an anti-pestiferous and several plagues occurred in Umbria in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance period. In Deruta, the last plague occurred in 1476;  in the area of Fontignano- Piegaro-Città Della Pieve in 1523 and caused the death of one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance art: Pietro Vannucci also known as Pietro Perugino.
Pietro Perugino painted the wonderful St. Sebastian of this image probably around 1495, now the property of the State Ermitage Museum of St.Petersburg, Russia.

Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, Church of St. Sebastian, Panicale
(ca. 1505) 

On the contrary, the St. Sebastian Pietro Perugino painted for the Church of Panicale, Italy (about 15 km. away from Piegaro) is still part of the original church decorations.
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The striking beauty of St. Sebastian by Pietro Perugino is an example of Renaissance art whose aim went beyond the faithful portrait of reality. Art was a way to describe a spiritual rebirth. As a consequence what came through was an idealization of the values of the person in the fresco, who was painted here as a handsome, kind, charitable and earnest young man: an angel.

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St. Sebastian was probably born in Milan and died in Rome (256-288 A.D.). His father was originally from France and his mother was Milanese. He became a Roman soldier and was martyrized because of his joining the Christian faith. He would help prisoners and people in need, he became so pure that he could make miracles, he converted important Romans to the Christian religion to such an extent that his Emperor felt betrayed, being Sebastian one of his most faithful soldiers. Upon his martyrdom St. Sebastian's body was filled with so many arrows that he looked like a porcupine, the story says. St Sebastian benefitted from a miracle himself because he didn't die because of this original martyrdom. A miracle occurred. He died as a consequence of the later flagellation by the order of the same Emperor Diocletian. His body was buried in the catacombs later called after his name: Catacombs of St. Sebastian.

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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RIDING THE HORSE - DIRECTION: DERUTA

The votive offering was painted by Perugino for the community
of Deruta (1477-1478). The plague was over in the town.
Saints Rocco and Romano were considered anti-pestiferous.
(Deruta Painting Gallery, originally in the Church of Saint
Francis in Deruta) 

The castle of Deruta in a ceramic plaque of the 1940s  (photo by Roberta Niccacci)

If you are in the  Piegaro - Città della Pieve - Fontignano area you might think of yourself as belonging to the flourishing Renaissance history of Deruta; by accompanying Maestro Pietro Vannucci known as "Perugino" (1448-1523) from Città della Pieve to Deruta in one of his trips to the town of ceramics.
This great artist of Italian art history was born in Città della Pieve and died in Fontignano, where he is buried. Perugino was one of the most important local and famous artists who inspired the ceramic art of Deruta, together with Bernardino di Betto known as "Pinturicchio" (1452-1513).
Between 1477-1478 the community of Deruta commissioned Perugino a votive offering (that we call "ex-voto" using the Latin expression) as a thank you for the end of the town's plague. This is one of the reasons why Perugino came to Deruta often, painting his fresco for the town of Deruta.

Also during the Renaissance period, Deruta was a famous place for VIPs such as the Borgia and Sforza families, artists, merchants, and bankers.

Detail of a fresco by Perugino from the "Nobile Collegio
del Cambio" in Perugia (money exchange office)
Deruta ceramic artists took their inspiration
from this hat's floral swirls as an example. 

At that time according to available literature, there were about ten ceramic workshops, churches, a hospital for pilgrims, and a few banks with a population of about one thousand Derutese.

Reproduction of a ceramic pitcher
from the origins of the history
of ceramic in Deruta. 

In the same years Perugino worked in Deruta (1477-1478), elegant ladies used to come to Deruta and visit the castle which was a property of the Municipality of Perugia. Indeed in the late 15th century and in the 16th century, Deruta became famous for creating decorative floor tiles for Churches and Chapels. Examples are the "Cappella Bella" (beautiful chapel) in Spello, namely for the Baglioni Family, nobles of Perugia, and the benedictine Church of Saint Peter in Perugia.

Detail of a Deruta handpainted wall plate from a fresco by
Pinturicchio. The writing is in Latin: "Ab Amicis Iusta
et Honesta Petamus" (tr. Don't ask your friends too much)
by famous Latin writer Cicero.

Deruta ceramic history probably started in the late 13th century. The first document witnessing a delivery of pitchers to a convent in Assisi goes back to 1282, which is a very recent discovery. The tradition definitely started in Deruta thanks to the availability of clay on the banks of the river Tiber, which runs in the town outskirts as well as the availability of woods on the hills over Deruta, necessary for furnaces. The art of ceramics itself probably came from the influence of Etruscan and  Roman cultures. Rome in particular was specialized in accessories for the table and its ceramicists worked at that time along the river Tiber's banks.

Handpainted Reproduction of the famous work of
art by Leonardo da Vinci "Lady with an Ermine"
(By Romano Ranieri)

In the origins, colors in use were only a few: green and manganese on white glaze. In town, there are a few studios that still do faithful reproductions of this style considered as sort of rustic compared to the Renaissance style productions.

Indeed with the passing of time, the ceramic tradition evolved to more elaborate designs which are distinguishing Deruta. Namely creating historical drawings such as the"Raffaellesco" and "Ricco Deruta" patterns; with a wide palette of colors from blue to yellow, orange, rust, green and red. Inspired by Renaissance talented artists they started reproducing scenes, profiles, and decorations into ceramic pieces, imitating the noble art of frescoes.

A second Renaissance period of Deruta ceramics dates back to the 1920s, thanks to the passionate research of the savants of the town of Deruta. The tradition came back to life towards the end of the 19th century after a long period of absence as a consequence of the Industrial Revolutions.

The original painting by Leonardo da Vinci,
"Lady with an Ermine" (about A.D. 1490) 

Latin was the language in use in both Renaissance periods and also in use nowadays for important writings on decorative plates, show plates, and decorative home accessories.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the Patron Saint of Deruta ceramicists and is celebrated every year on November 25th. Her symbol is the wheel, known as Catherine's wheel:  Deruta is famous for round shapes and terracotta's most production is made on the kick wheel. This is what Deruta is famous for and why this Saint is so meaningful to ceramic artists.

Rue on top of the

tower.  this is where

the name Deruta

comes from.

Detail of the crest 

of Deruta 

Deruta ceramics go under the name of "majolica" or simply "maiolica". "J" in Italian is an old-fashioned way of writing "i", no longer in use... More information and curiosities are in this blog. Follow www.friendsofcama.blogspot.it, like my Facebook page to receive blog updates!


p.s. Piegaro is about 40 km away from Deruta by car, an estimate 50 minutes drive.

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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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