C21. T0 THE CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST GM
Just East of the Piccolomini Library is the little Chapel of St John the Baptist – not to be confused with the St John the Baptist Baptistry. We shall enter there in a moment, but we should comment on the rough timber pole attached to the column at left. This is one of two big wooden poles attached to a marble column. The story is that these were standards carried into battle against the Florentines at Montespertoli in 1260. The Sienese later placed them in the Cathedral as an offering and memorial because they won the battle against the larger, stronger and well financed forces of Florence. An alternative and more believable version is that this is one of two 18 metre flagpoles in Florence. During the battle a Sienes spy brought the Florence flag down causing panic amongst the Florentine soldiers and ultimately their defeat. [Photo Credits: Photo1 Ligia Garcia Medina; Photo2 SM L] INDEX
C22. CHAPEL HISTORY LM LM
In 1462, the last Byzantine ruler of southern Greece had sent several relics to Pope Pius II for safekeeping ahead of the inevitable Turkish invasion of his state. Most prominent among these was the head of St Andrew the Apostle, but also the right arm of St John the Baptist, which the Pope then donated to his former Cathedral. This chapel was built next to the North transept in 1482 to house the relic. The wrought iron gate is by Sallustio di Francesco Barili. Public viewing is from the doorway!
C23. NOT A FONT LM
Surprisingly, the beautifully carved object in the centre of this chapel is not used as a font. It is known as the “pozzetto del sabato santo – the Holy Saturday well”. It is not a baptismal font, but rather a receptacle for holy water blessed on Holy Saturday. It was made by Antonio Federighi in 1465-68.
C24. CHAPEL DOME LM LM
Like the Chigi Chapel opposite, this Chapel has its own dome with lantern. However, the dome here is quite ornate with eight cherubs reclining around the lantern, and eight ‘framed’ angels nearer the base.
C25. STATUE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST LM
Facing the entry to the chapel is this statue of John the Baptist by Donatello. Clad in his usual rags, St. John the Baptist appears in agony, with a haggard face and sunken eyes. When Donatello came to Siena in 1457 to work on the Cathedral’s baptismal font, he brought with him this bronze statue of the Baptist, incomplete and in pieces. In fact it arrived in Siena without a right forearm. Legend holds that Donatello may have left it incomplete when he wasn’t paid in full. Or it might have broken off in transit. He was unable to find a buyer for it, and left it behind when he returned to Florence in 1461. It was completed by another artist, Cristoforo Gabbrieli, and placed in the chapel as soon as it was built.
C26. AROUND THE CHAPEL LM
Like the Chigi Chapel, this Chapel has eight sides, but here it is difficult to see what is on the faces adjacent to the entry. Shown above at left we have a statue of St Ansano (died 304 AD), the patron saint of Siena. He is called the Baptizer or Apostle of Siena. The statue is by Giovanni Di Stefano (1487). The fresco is ‘The Birth of St John the Baptist’ by Pinturicchio.
C27. CHAPEL FRESCOES LM
The Chapel contains eight frescoes by Pinturicchio, commissioned by Alberto Aringhieri, and painted between 1504 and 1505. Here we see at left ‘The Beheading of John the Baptist’, and at right (part of) the Portrait of Alberto Aringhieri – patron of the Chapel.