Audio Guide to the San Brizio Chapel and its Remarkable Fresco Cycle.

In 1290, the foundation stone was laid in Orvieto for what would eventually become a magnificent Cathedral. More than a century later, the chapel we now know as San Brizio was added, and it was yet another 100 years before the walls of the chapel were decorated.

In 1447, Fra Angelico began painting his vision of the Court of Heaven on the ceiling vault, but he soon abandoned his contract. Another 50 years passed before Luca Signorelli was commissioned to finish the ceiling and to decorate the walls of the room. The end result was one of the most remarkable fresco cycles produced in Italy during that remarkable period of artistic achievement. It is no exaggeration to assert that Signorelli’s San Brizio Chapel is among the most fascinating and unique works of the Renaissance.

Now you can experience these ground-breaking frescoes guided by the scholarship of a renowned Renaissance historian. LUCA SIGNORELLI AT ORVIETO is the exclusive audio adaptation of the popular book in The Great Fresco Cycles of the Renaissance series, written by Professor Jonathan B Reiss, a distinguished scholar of Mediaeval and Renaissance Italian art.

Brilliant and original, the San Brizio Chapel frescoes depict the Christian story of the end of the world, and an exploration of the world beyond the grave. Jane's engaging narration will guide you through the powerful imagery – to understand the fresco cycle, step-by-step, in the context of the history and the artistic genius that coincided to create it.

This audio guide reveals:
• the conceptual framework of the fresco cycle;
• how the subject matter and apocalyptic imagery reflect 15th century Christian orthodoxy;
• how the frescoes express the religious and communal concerns of the Orvietan people; and
• Signorelli's representational virtuosity and technical skill.

The guide is for armchair travelers too! You don’t have to actually go to Orvieto to appreciate the Cappella di San Brizio. You can create a virtual visit as you listen to the narration: in the companion booklet there are pictures of the frescoes. And you can see larger images of the frescoes at www.janessmartart.com/orvieto.htm

Signorelli's murals have been accorded relatively little consideration by art historians, in large part because Orvieto has always been a secondary political and arts cen¬ter. Nonetheless, although scholarly interest has tended to be directed elsewhere, the enormous significance of these frescoes in terms of style, subject, and technique is widely acknowledged. In fact, Signorelli’s Orvieto nudes are among the few that rival the energy and power of Michelangelo's art.

• Background Context: "Slice of History" ... 50 minutes
• On-Site Guide to the San Brizio Chapel ... 75 minutes
• Appendices ... 30 minutes

The download includes a printable 8-page booklet (.pdf file) containing the track list, tips for using the guide, and 17 images keyed to the audio, to help keep you oriented.

• Price: $ 8.95
• Duration: 125 minutes + 30 optional minutes
• Publisher: Jane's Smart Art Guides™
• Distance: Interior of San Brizio Chapel in Orvieto Cathedral
• Voice(s): Jane McIntosh
• Subject Type: Other
• Language: English
• Review score:

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