The 1333 Annunciation, currently housed in the Uffizi, displays the collaborative hand of Lippo Memmi alongside his brother-in-law, Simone Martini. Memmi contributed specific decorative elements to this landmark of the International Gothic movement, particularly the columnar figures of St. Margaret and St. Ansanus, establishing his role as a prominent, if historically understated, contributor to the Sienese school.
Stylistic Foundations
Memmi operated within the stylistic frameworks of the Proto-Renaissance, maintaining a bridge between late Duecento tradition and newer Sienese developments. His figures often feature a static, frontal orientation with specific anatomical characteristics, including rounded faces, narrow eyes, and elongated noses. Unlike his contemporaries, Memmi maintained a softer, more tranquil aesthetic, which often imbued his panels with a dreamlike quality rather than stark realism.
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The artist achieved distinction through meticulous application of gold leaf and tin, utilizing complex stamp work to create radiant patterns in halos. His mastery of detail extended to the rendering of fabric, frequently employing sgraffito techniques to delineate patterns. Innovations such as the circular angel arrangements in his Assumption of the Virgin highlight a sophisticated use of geometric composition, distinguishing his workshop output from earlier, more angular artistic conventions.
Attribution and Workshop History
Emerging from the workshop of his father, Memmo di Filippuccio, Memmi eventually moved beyond his early collaboration with Simone Martini. Modern scholarship has increasingly challenged older attributions, specifically questioning the existence of the elusive artist Barna of Siena. Many works formerly ascribed to Barna, including the New Testament fresco cycle in the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, are now frequently attributed to Memmi’s hand, suggesting a more independent career than previously recognized.
Fast facts
- Born: 1291, Siena
- Died: 1356, Siena
- Movement: Proto-Renaissance; Sienese school
- Notable Works: Crucifixion, St. Peter, Polyptych for the Pisa Cathedral
- Professional Connection: Simone Martini
- Notable Fresco Cycle: New Testament, Collegiate Church of San Gimignano
Questions readers ask
What characterized the 'Lippesque' style?
The term refers to specific visual devices, particularly the frontal, axially-ordered head of the Christ Child, characterized by a spheroid shape and a central whirl of hair on a large forehead.
Did Lippo Memmi work outside of Siena?
Yes, he worked at Orvieto Cathedral and later followed Simone Martini to the Papal court in Avignon, where he remained until the middle of the 14th century.
Achievements
- Notable work: Crucifixion
- Notable work: St. Peter
- Notable work: Polyptych for the Pisa Cathedral
- Movement: Proto-Renaissance and Sienese school
