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Pope Celestin III granting to the Rector of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala at Siena, exemption from the jurisdiction of the Cathedral Chapter

Catani

1890

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Post-Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Pope Celestin III granting to the Rector of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala at Siena, exemption from the jurisdiction of the Cathedral Chapter is a 1890 watercolor by Catani, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Catani
When & what style?: 1890 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a busy indoor scene with lots of people dressed in fancy medieval clothes. Some are standing, others are talking or gesturing. The room has tall arches, columns, and detailed patterns on the walls and ceiling. Bright colors like reds, blues, and golds fill the scene, and there’s a mix of light and shadow playing across the figures. One interesting detail is the dog lying on the floor near the center. It’s small but stands out in the crowd. The painting looks like it was done to tell a story, maybe about an important event or agreement. If you like this style, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour by Catani from 1890 reproduces a scene in which Pope Celestine III grants the Rector of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena exemption from the jurisdiction of the local Cathedral Chapter, based on a fresco painted by Domenico di Bartolo between 1440 and 1444 in the hospital’s Hall of the Pilgrims. The work is signed and dated in Roman numerals.

Read the full account in the museum source.