PIETRO PERUGINO WORKS IN UMBRIA
The itinerary in Umbria starts from Città della Pieve, the birthplace of the master, where people can admire the Adoration of the Magi in the Oratory of Santa Maria dei Bianchi (1504), the Baptism of Christ and the Madonna with Child and Saints Gervasio, Pietro Paolo and Protasio in the Cathedral and the Deposition from the Cross in the Diocesan Civic Museum of Santa Maria dei Servi. From Città della Pieve it comes to Panicale, a small medieval village; here, in the Church of San Sebastiano, there is a fresco dedicated to the martyrdom of the same saint (1505). Then the visitor reaches Fontignano. Here, the last work of the painter, the Madonna Enthroned with the Child, is kept in the Church of the Annunziata as well as his tomb. The itinerary goes to Corciano; in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, there is an altarpiece depicting the Virgin’s Assumption into Heaven. In Perugia, in the National Gallery of Umbria, various works are exhibited including the Adoration of the Magi, the banner with the Pietà, and Our Lady of Consolation. In the Collegio del Cambio the “Divine Painter” frescoed the Audience Hall, also including his self-portrait. In the Chapel of San Severo, it is possible to admire the fresco of the Trinity and Saints, started by Raphael.
In Deruta, in the Municipal Art Gallery, a fresco dating back to 1476 represents the Eternal Blessing between Saints Romano and Rocco with a view of the city. Another work where the middle valley of the Tiber is visible is the fresco depicting Saint Sebastian and fragments of Saint Rocco and Saint Peter in the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cerqueto.
A painting representing Saint Anthony of Padua and devout (1512-
1513) and Our Lady of Mercy with Saints Stephen and Jerome are
exhibited in the museum of Bettona. In 1486 Perugino also worked in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi on the external wall of the Porziuncola, where he depicted a large Crucifixion. In Spello and Trevi some of the last works datable to 1521 are kept: the Pietà and the Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints, located on the sides of the altar of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Spello, and the Adoration of the Magi, Saints Peter and Paul and the Annunciation in the Church of Santa Maria delle Lacrime in Trevi. The fresco of the Nativity in the Museum of San Francesco in Montefalco dates back to 1503 and recalls the same subject and the same composition as the painting made three years earlier at the Collegio del Cambio.
The itinerary ends in the historic center of Foligno, in the Oratory of Nunziatella, where there is the Baptism of Christ with the Eternal in glory between two Angels.
