Sano di Pietro Facts for Kids

Sano di Pietro, whose full name was Ansano di Pietro di Mencio (1405–1481), was an Italian painter. He belonged to the Sienese School of painting. He worked for about 50 years during a period called the Quattrocento, which means the 1400s. Other famous painters from his time included Giovanni di Paolo and Sassetta.

Life of Sano di Pietro
The Sienese Painting Style
Sano's Art and Reputation
Where to See Sano di Pietro's Art
Selected Works by Sano di Pietro
- Smaller Panels from an Altarpiece
Images for kids
See also

Life of Sano di Pietro

Sano di Pietro was born in 1405. He became a registered painter in 1428 and continued painting until he died in 1481. Besides creating his own art, Sano also managed a workshop with students and helpers. He was an active citizen in Siena. In 1431 and 1442, he was a leader in the San Donato area of the city. Sano also helped settle disagreements. For example, in 1475, he helped solve a problem between two other painters, Neroccio di Bartolommeo and Francesco di Giorgio Martini.

Painting was how Sano earned his living. His workshop created many different kinds of art. He painted large altarpieces, which are artworks placed behind altars in churches. But he also made frescoes (paintings on walls), tiny miniature paintings, and decorated book covers. Sano died in 1481. His death notice described him as:

A famous painter and a man wholly dedicated to God.

The Sienese Painting Style

Triptych of Madonna with Child, St. James and St. John the Evangelist. Now at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

A large altarpiece (polyptych) by Sano di Pietro in San Quirico d'Orcia's collegiata.

Before Sano was born, the Sienese School of painting became a strong competitor to the Florentine School. The two styles were quite different. Florentine art was known for being more realistic. Sienese art, however, was seen as more imaginative and dream-like. An old saying above a gate into Siena even said:

Siena opens her heart still wider to thee.

Sienese paintings were known for their bright, lively colors. Artists often used shades that had not been seen in paintings before. They also added many rich details. The clothing in their paintings often had elegant folds and amazing patterns. The figures and even the landscapes in Sienese art often looked light and airy. These features are what make a painting part of the Sienese School.

Sano's Art and Reputation

In the 1400s, painters like Sano di Pietro had their own workshops. In these workshops, they managed assistants and students who helped them complete the art projects they were hired to do. More than 270 of Sano's artworks still exist today.

Some art critics have said that many of Sano's paintings look similar. This is partly because he was very successful and produced a lot of art. He painted what his customers wanted, which often meant following a similar style. Also, many of his works were not painted by Sano alone. His workshop assistants helped, and sometimes their work made the paintings seem less unique.

However, when you look at paintings that Sano himself painted, you can see his special touch. He was known for his excellent use of color.

One great example of his skill is a large altarpiece he made for the Church of the Gesuati. Many people consider this painting to be his best work. It is also believed to be the first piece painted entirely by him. In this painting, the central figure of Mary wears a blue robe that seems to glow with bright color. This strong color spreads out to the figures around her.

Another famous painting is "St. Bernardino Preaching in the Campo of Siena." In 1425, a saint named Bernardino gave many sermons in the main town square (campo) of Siena. Sano painted this event. The painting shows a huge crowd filling the center of town. The crowd is so big it seems to go beyond the edges of the painting. The red clothes of the people in the crowd seem to blend with the pink of the buildings. These colors look good together instead of clashing. The warm reds and pinks are balanced by the blues in the sky and a canopy, which divide the painting.

Where to See Sano di Pietro's Art

You can find Sano di Pietro's paintings in many museums and art galleries around the world. Some of these places include:

The National Gallery and the Cathedral Museum of Siena
The Pinacoteca Vaticana (Vatican Art Gallery)
The Brooklyn Museum of Art
The Lindenau-Museum in Altenburg
The Diocesan Museum of Pienza
The Clark Art Institute
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Detroit Institute of Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
The Birmingham Museum of Art
The Speed Art Museum
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Yale University Art Gallery
The Fitzwilliam Museum
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper
The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

Selected Works by Sano di Pietro

Angel of Annunciation
Madonna of Mercy
Scenes from the Life of St Jerome
Scenes from the Life of St Jerome
Scenes from the Life of St Jerome
Nativity (around 1445)
Flight to Egypt (around 1445)

Gesuati Altarpiece - This artwork is in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena. Six smaller panels from its base are in the Louvre museum.
Christ Carrying Cross - Located at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
St Jerome (around 1470) - Found at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Madonna and Child - At the Detroit Institute of Art.
Madonna and Christ Child with Saints - At the Lowe Art Museum in Florida.
Virgin and Christ Child with Saints Jerome and Bernardino of Siena - At the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Madonna and Christ Child with Saints - At the Denver Art Museum.