Pietro Orioli was born in
Siena in
Tuscany. The art of Siena has previously been celebrated primarily for its late medieval masters such as
Duccio,
Simone Martini, as well as
Ambrogio and
Pietro Lorenzetti; Orioli arose in the next century, and the art in Siena of this period has been generally overshadowed by the art of Florentine masters of the
Quattrocento. In 1458 the Sienese cardinal Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini was elected as
Pope Pius II. The period between this date and the end of the Sienese republic in 1558 saw the development of a unique style of art from the city state, showing tendencies towards some of the more ethereal properties of the golden age of Sienese art rather than the studied realism and veneration of classical aesthetics and principles which drove many artists within the more celebrated centres of Florence, Rome and
Venice. The artistic development along the line of more
international Gothic styles would have meant that these more famous artistic schools would probably have considered contemporary Sienese art somewhat archaic and unfashionable. Orioli had a relatively short artistic career (he died aged 37, and was only active independently from 1480), but his work is nonetheless important in the context of Sienese art. He was a pupil of the painter
Matteo di Giovanni who was very much a product of the quattrocento
Sienese school. He is also known to have worked with the celebrated
Francesco di Giorgio, a painter, sculptor and former pupil of probably the most famous Sienese sculptor of the period
Il Vecchietta. It is therefore possible to deduce that Orioli was active within a circle of quintessentially Sienese artists. His first documented work is
Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostles (1489), found in the
Baptistry in Siena. Other important works include
Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and a Female Saint (c. 1490), a
Nativity (c. 1494–96), and an
Adoration of the Shepherds dating to the last part of his career. , who was chosen in the 3rd century BC as the most worthy woman in
Rome to dedicate a statue to the goddess
Venus Verticordia.
Walters Art Museum Stylistically, Orioli's work seems to related be to that of his Florentine contemporary,
Botticelli. His painting can similarly be described as 'non-realist'. He uses pale hatching unrelated to the landscape or architecture to reinforce the contours of his figures in a way that is similar to Botticelli's
St Zenobius panels in the
National Gallery, London. Botticelli in fact uses this device later than Orioli, suggesting that either the two knew each other, or Botticelli regarded the Sienese artist very highly. Orioli's works, though very much a part of his city's artistic school, also show some more Florentine traits. His figures have a characteristically Sienese mystical quality, but also show a careful adherence to the rules of human anatomy and perspective. This can be seen most obviously in his c.1493 work
Sulpitia. This was part of a series of panels, the others being
Judith by Matteo di Giovanni,
Artemisia by the
Master of the story of Griselda and
Claudia Quinta by
Neroccio di Landi and the Master of the Story of Griselda (all Sienese). Whilst the latter paintings show varying degrees of success in presenting their characters realistically on painted plinths, Orioli's stands much more believably. Furthermore, when seen together Orioli's figure has a dramatic, fulsome quality, with a naturalistic pose compared to the other figures which are demonstrably within the Gothic tradition of awkward, stylised poses. Orioli was stylistic similar to the contemporaries operating within his home city, as well as being related to the highly celebrated Florentine Botticelli, who he may have influenced. His work differs from that of some of his kinsmen, however, in showing what would have been seen by those outside Siena as a more modern approach. Among his followers would be
Pietro di Domenico Petrini. ==References==