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Madonna del Purgatorio Siena
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Artist: Pittore senese del XIV secolo
Current location: Basilica di San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi
Original location:
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
ting to the mid-14th century, the frescoed image of the Madonna of Purgatory is only the surviving fragment of a Last Judgment that also included one of the earliest depictions of Purgatory. The same subject is depicted in two frescoes from the same period, both in central Italy:
The first, dated 1346, preserved intact in the church of San Francesco in Todi, is perhaps the work of the same anonymous master;
The second, dated 1368, is visible in the church of San Michele in Paganico. This latter work is by Biagio di Goro Ghezzi.
A comparison of the three frescoes allows us to precisely identify the subject of the one we are interested in here. The Virgin, dressed entirely in white, popularly known as the Madonna of Souls, is simply depicted welcoming the souls from Purgatory, rewarded with a wreath of flowers and escorted by an angel, forming a procession at the Virgin's feet.
In all three cases, the Madonna's posture, bending over the souls just released from Purgatory, is similar. What distinguishes the Sienese fresco from the other two is the explicit gesture of the angels behind the Madonna, holding her cloak open, as in representations of the Madonna of Mercy.
Here, however, the souls do not stop under the Virgin's cloak but continue their journey toward H
Madonna del Purgatorio.jpeg)