Portrait study c. 1530-35 |
Charity c. 1525 |
After a youthful period of study in Rome, Domenico Beccafumi (1486-1551) returned to his native city of Siena. He remained there for the rest of his career, the dominant artist of his time and place and a pioneer of Mannerism.
Holy Family c. 1545-50 |
Fresco study c. 1530-35 |
St. Mark 1538 |
St. Matthew 1538 |
Beccafumi excelled as a painter of miracles. His cycle from the life of St. Catherine of Siena (the best-known local saint, who had lived two centuries earlier) included a near-transparent rendering of the Holy Spirit (immediately below) hovering like a hummingbird in front of Catherine's face in order to deliver a non-earthly communion wafer to her mouth.
Mystical Communion of St. Catherine of Siena 1513-15 |
St. Catherine of Siena receiving Stigmata c. 1513-18 |
Appearance of Archangel Michael atop Castel Sant' Angelo c. 1538 |