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Spinello Aretino, 'Two Haloed Mourners', about 1387-91

About the work

This is a fragment of a painting in fresco, a technique that involved painting directly onto fresh plaster. It has been repainted and only a layer of tin remains on the haloes, which may originally have been gilded.

It formed part of an image showing the burial of Saint John the Baptist; here, two of the saint’s disciples bow their heads in grief, gazing sorrowfully upon his body. Saint John was beheaded on the orders of King Herod, who had offered his stepdaughter Salome whatever she desired. Influenced by her mother, she asked for John’s head.

The painting decorated the wall of the Manetti chapel in the Florentine church of Santa Maria del Carmine, along with other large scenes depicting the life of the saint. The series of frescoes were destroyed but 11 fragments – cut from the wall by the English artist Thomas Patch – survive in other European collections.

Key facts

Full title
Two Haloed Mourners: Fragment from the 'Burial of Saint John the Baptist'
Artist
Spinello Aretino
Artist dates
born 1345-52; died 1410
Date made
about 1387-91
Medium and support
fresco
Dimensions
51.3 × 51.3 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1856
Inventory number
NG276
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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