Artwork

Pope Celestin III granting to the Rector of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala at Siena, exemption from the jurisdiction of the Cathedral Chapter

Pope Celestin III granting to the Rector of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala at Siena, exemption from the jurisdiction of the Cathedral Chapter is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Catani. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This 1890 watercolour by Catani depicts a historical scene of Pope Celestine III granting exemption to the Rector of Siena's Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, based on a 15th-century fresco by Domenico di Bartolo.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork illustrates a specific historical event: the Pope's concession of jurisdictional exemption to the hospital's Rector, freeing it from the local Cathedral Chapter's authority. The scene conveys the importance of this ecclesiastical transaction.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the work features vibrant colors (notably reds, blues, and golds), detailed patterns, and interplay of light and shadow. The composition is bustling with figures in medieval attire, set against a backdrop of tall arches and columns.

History & Provenance

Catani's watercolour is a 19th-century reproduction of Domenico di Bartolo's original fresco (1440-1444) in Siena's Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala. The watercolour is signed and dated by Catani in Roman numerals.