Francesca (Piero (Pietro) di Benedetto dei Franceschi) is the greatest artist and theorist of the Early Renaissance (1420-1492). He was born into a family of a dyer and wool merchant in Umbria, in the small town of Borgo San Sepolcro near Arezzo. He was named after his mother, since his father died before his birth. There is little reliable information about the artist’s life. The first mention dates back to 1431, when Piero was working on his first order – painting church candles.

He studied with Domenico Veneziano in Florence, under whose guidance he worked in 1439 on the decoration of the Florentine Cathedral of San Egedio (however, the frescoes have not survived to this day. He worked in Rimini, Arezzo, Urbino, Ferrara, Rome. 1450-1462 in his hometown, where he was a city councilor, the altar painting “Madonna of Mercy” was painted. The artist found unusually expressive techniques in creating the image of the Madonna. Resembling a statue, the figure of the young Mary exceeds in size the figures of those who come to her feet. She spread a heavy cloak over them, everyone can find protection and refuge.

The frescoes in the altar of the church of San Sansepolcro Francesco in Arezzo (1452-1466) are the most remarkable creation of the master. They depict the story of the Life-giving The cross on which Christ was crucified, according to the “Golden Legend” told by the 13th century monk Jacopo de Voragine. . Francesca chose the main moments from many. At the beginning – “The Death of Adam”, when a sacred tree grows on Adam’s grave, at the end – the return of the relic to Jerusalem by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. In the placement of scenes, Francesca did not follow the narrative, but created a fresco ensemble, which is designed for one-time viewing.

Piero della Francesca often visited Urbino, carried out orders for the Duke of Urbino and was probably his friend. The Montefeltro courtyard in Urbino was one of the centers of intellectual life in Italy. For the Urbino Palace, “The Flagellation of Christ” was painted in 1455-1460 and is the result of all the artist’s pictorial searches. This is one of the most beautiful and most enigmatic paintings of the artist. The scene of the Flagellation itself is located in the depths of the portico, against a backdrop of strict architecture. Clear, precise designs are based on precise calculations.