Siciolante and his masters

With plural substantive masters of title I want alone remark two models for two paintings of a Italian painter, Girolamo Siciolante(1521-1575), but alone one painter was master of Siciolante, who for his first painting, that isn’t that Vasari indicated, this is Virgin, Child and saints(Fig.1), now in castell Caetani in Sermoneta, and dated 1541, but a panting with Conception(Fig.2), now in cathedral of Sermoneta, that Siciolante almost copied from his master, Leonardo da Pistoia, master of Siciolante, this is Immaculate and saints Rock e Francis in the church of saint Francis and Mary in Potenza(Fig.3), Italy, certainly Siciolante could study this painting and he, for his first commission from Caetani family, for church of Immaculate, in Sermoneta, today saint Joseph, he took this model and followed it almost to copy; if we see well painting of Siciolante and that his master we can see that they are almost specular, substantial cloud, same hand with long fingers, face is almost equal, posture is same, and same cloth, heavy with fold. Between this painting and second work of Siciolante(Fig.1) difference is very remarked and evident; it is possible because Siciolante could see other master, now in Bologna, this is Francesco Rossi(1510-1563), called Salviati, and he could study his altarpiece in church of saint Christine della Fondazza((Fig.4). Siciolante, I think, could goes to Bologna as member of court of Cardinal Niccolò Caetani, that was member of court of Pope Paul 3th Farnese to Bologna during 1541, same year of altarpiece of Sermoneta; we can see very similarities: almost same posture for saint John Baptist(Fig.5) and a saint of altarpiece of Salviati(Fig.6), same fingers and same posture in contrary, face of Virgin is almost specular to face of Virgin of Salviati. Therefore  Siciolante could take these models and he could paint this altarpiece for Abbacy of Valvisciolo, for commission of Caetani family. Other peculiarity is on the date, this is it is only painting with date of Siciolante, 1541, but why it? Because at same year Cardinal Niccolò Caetani gone with his cousin Pope Paul 3th Farnese, and this was first official task in age of 15^th years, therefore is possible that Niccolò or family Caetani would remark this date, because very important for a Cardinal and during this very young age.

Alessandro Lusana   

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