On the occasion of the 25th Ordinary Jubilee of the Catholic Church, centered on the theme of Hope, Siena Cathedral will once again unveil its beautiful marble floor, June 27 to July 31 and Aug. 18 to Oct. 15.
“Let us live our faith, especially in this Jubilee year, seeking to be a witness that gives hope to the world,” urged Pope Leo XIV in addressing the faithful. “A world that suffers so dolo because of wars, violence and poverty. But we Christians are asked by the Lord to be true witnesses.”
The many “pilgrims of hope” who will pass through Siena along the Via Francigena will be invited to embark on a spiritual journey through the inlays of the floor, dedicated to the most humble, yet essential, of the theological virtues: Hope. And in this jubilee year the inlay depicting Hope, created in 1870 by Leopoldo Maccari together with Giuseppe and Antonio Radichi on a cartoon by Alessandro Franchi, will be on public view for the first time. Normally this inlay is covered, even during uncovering, to allow access to the Chapel of the Vow, dedicated to prayer and meditation.
The work takes up the traditional iconography: the figure has her hands clasped on her chest, her gaze turned upward and is accompanied by an anchor, an attribute that is symbolic of the salvation to which humanity entrusts its hopes.
The spiritual and symbolic journey takes its inspiration from the prophecy of the Persian Sibyl, depicted in the last inlay in the right aisle, a work attributed to Benvenuto di Giovanni (1482). The prophecy, engraved above the lectern, is derived from the Sibylline Oracles mentioned by Lactantius in the Divinae Institutiones and refers to a miracle of Christ: “With only five loaves and two fish he will satiate on the grass five thousand men. Gathering the leftovers, he will fill twelve baskets FOR THE HOPE OF MANY.”
The itinerary begins at the entrance door to the right of the central portal, on the lintel of which is engraved an inscription commemorating the first Jubilee of Christendom, called by Pope Boniface VIII on February 22, 1300. These are Leonine verses in Latin, composed by Silvester of Adria, which were once intoned by pilgrims on their way to Rome. Inside, visitors can admire the marble inlays made with the technique of commesso, combining local polychrome marbles, and sgraffio, engraving that follows the outlines of the preparatory cartoon drawn by artists (mostly Sienese) such as Sassetta, Domenico di Bartolo, Matteo di Giovanni, and Domenico Beccafumi, with the ’exception of the Umbrian Pinturicchio, author of the famous scene of the Mount of Wisdom-Felicity, an allegory of the path to Virtue through knowledge and philosophy.
The itinerary continues beyond the Floor, with further spiritual and artistic stops inside the Monumental Complex of Siena Cathedral: from the Crypt, with frescoes dedicated to the Resurrection, to the Baptistery, which houses Donatello’s Hope - recently restored and part of the iconographic program of the Baptismal Font - to the Museo dell’Opera, where visitors can admire the back of Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Maestà. Prominent in the large panel is the appearance of the risen Christ, dressed as a pilgrim, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Pilgrims of hope will also be able to visit the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, a subsidiary of the Cathedral, where Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere, as part of Contemporary Means, is proposing the installation Mantel I and Mantel II (2016-2018), dedicated to the themes of transformation, transcendence and reconciliation of the body in the face of death.
The official catalog of the Floor, A Marble Book by Marilena Caciorgna, recently published in Italian and English by Sillabe, offers an in-depth look not only at the art-historical, but also at the interpretative, analyzing symbols, inscriptions and themes of the inlays.
To participate in the entire itinerary of Hope, it is possible to book special Passes that include, in addition to the visit to the uncovered floor, access to the entire complex surrounding the Cathedral and the Palazzo delle Papesse, linked to the patronage of Pope Pius II. Passes can be booked online, at museum ticket offices or at the Dear Guest visitor center.
Guided tours and cultural activities led by professionals in different languages are also planned to accompany visitors in their discovery of this extraordinary masterpiece.
The extraordinary unveiling of the Floor and the many related initiatives are promoted by Opera della Metropolitana and organized by Opera Laboratori.
For info and reservations:
www.operaduomo.siena.it
booking@operalaboratori.com
+39 0577 286300
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| The Floor of Siena Cathedral is revealed: the inlay of Hope is visible for the first time |
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