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The treasure cabinet made to contain the books of a great dynasty of scholars
On the north-west side of Siena Cathedral stands the Libreria Piccolomini, a magnificent ceremonial hall intended by its patron, Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini, to contain his family’s literary treasures and at the same time to celebrate the memory of his uncle Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini, who had reigned as Pope Pius II.
Adorned on the outside with a magnificent marble entrance, the Libreria Piccolomini possesses on the inside a jewel-like cycle of frescoes painted by Pinturicchio. For the first time this fresco cycle – of remarkable pictorial quality – is fully illustrated in all in inexhaustible narrative and chromatic richness.
Texts by A. Angelini, M. Bollati, S. Fraschetti, A. Galli, M. Lenzi, A. M. Riccomini,
D. Toracca.
Photographs by G. Roli