As you tour the Cathedral's museum complex, you will eventually come into the north aisle of the so-called "New Cathedral". This now houses the Museo dell'Opera, one of the oldest private museums in Italy.
The museum was founded in 1869 and earned the approval of the Education Ministry in an era that witnessed the accomplishment of numerous large-scale projects. The building housing the museum is of immense interest in itself, occupying the first three (now bricked-up) bays of the south aisle of the "New Cathedral", on which construction began in 1339 but was broken off after the Black Death of 1348.
Giovanni Pisano, Miriam, sister of Moses
The large Stained-glass rose window made by Duccio di Buoninsegna to fill the round "oculus" opening above the Cathedral's chancel between 1287 and 1290, has been installed at the end of the room.
>The room also contains two important works by 15th century artists: a bas-relief depicting the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Cardinal Casini by Jacopo della Quercia (1437–8) from the Chapel of St. Sebastian in the Cathedral, and Donatello's tondo, a celebrated work depicting the Madonna and Child with Four Cherubs and known as the 'Madonna del Perdono' (c. 1458) from the original altar of the Madonna delle Grazie in the Cathedral.
The large Stained-glass rose window made by Duccio di Buoninsegna to fill the round "oculus" opening above the Cathedral's chancel between 1287 and 1290, has been installed at the end of the room.
Jacopo della Quercia, Madonna and Child, St Antony the Abbot and Cardinal Antonio Casini
Donatello,
Madonna and Child, known as the "Madonna del Perdono"
The Statue Gallery
Measuring fully six metres in diameter, the window contains three stories from the life of the Virgin – the Burial, the Assumption and the Coronation – in its three superimposed central registers, while on either side of the central panel we find depictions of Siena's four patron saints, St. Bartholomew, St. Ansanus, St. Crescentius and St. Sabinus.
The intense blues of the background, the golden yellows, the ruby reds, the amethyst purples and the emerald greens of the figures' clothing and drapery combine with the delicate pink chosen for their flesh to form an extraordinarily dazzling array of colours.
Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Assumption
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Madonna and Child Enthroned
The altarpiece, which Duccio painted from 1308 to 1311, was visible from both sides and is one of the most prodigious artistic undertakings of all time, if we consider that it contains over forty figures on the front and almost eighty in the stories on the back, on the predellas and on the cusps. The panel on the front side depicts the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints while the back, which is divided up into twenty-six different scenes, recounts the story of the Passion of Christ. The same room also contains a panel depicting the Birth of the Virgin painted by Pietro Lorenzetti in 1342 for the former alter of St. Sabinus in the Cathedral.
The rooms adjacent to the Room of the Maestà house a rich and prestigious collection of wooden sculptures and illuminated manuscript codices. The statues of Mourners carved by Domenico di Niccolò dei Cori between 1414 and 1415 and the Madonna and Saints carved by Jacopo della Quercia between 1415 and 1420 are of outstanding quality, while a set of cases in the room houses several of the Cathedral's numerous codices illuminated by artists of the calibre of Lippo Vanni, Sano di Pietro and Benvenuto di Giovanni.
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Entry into Jerusalem
The rooms adjacent to the Room of the Maestà house a rich and prestigious collection of wooden sculptures and illuminated manuscript codices. The statues of Mourners carved by Domenico di Niccolò dei Cori between 1414 and 1415 and the Madonna and Saints carved by Jacopo della Quercia between 1415 and 1420 are of outstanding quality, while a set of cases in the room houses several of the Cathedral's numerous codices illuminated by artists of the calibre of Lippo Vanni, Sano di Pietro and Benvenuto di Giovanni.
Jacopo della Quercia, Madonna and Child with Saints
Benvenuto di Giovanni, Creation of stars
We now move on to the Treasury with its over two hundred objects associated with the sacred liturgy. Its rich collection of chalices includes a superbly enamelled cup made by Goro di Ser Neroccio in the 15th century. Reliquaries are also here.
Reliquiario del braccio di San Giovanni
The stars of its splendid collection of reliquaries are the Reliquary of San Galgano, made towards the end of the 13th century and one of the most important examples of Sienese goldsmith's art, and the Reliquary of the Arm of St. John the Baptist commissioned by Pope Pius II from Francesco d'Antonio in 1466 to house a relic given to him by the Despot of Morea, Thomas Paleologus. The rare and extremely beautiful cruets from the Chapel of the "Madonna del Voto" in Siena Cathedral are made of rock crystal mounted in silver embellished with translucent enamels. Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII Chigi in the mid-17th century, these cruets may be considered masterpieces of the goldsmith's art on account of both their highly sophisticated engraving and decoration and of the craftsman's perfect mastery of his technique. Another product of Chigi patronage is the splendid Golden Rose designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and donated to Siena Cathedral by Alexander VII in 1658.
The stars of its splendid collection of reliquaries are the Reliquary of San Galgano, made towards the end of the 13th century and one of the most important examples of Sienese goldsmith's art, and the Reliquary of the Arm of St. John the Baptist commissioned by Pope Pius II from Francesco d'Antonio in 1466 to house a relic given to him by the Despot of Morea, Thomas Paleologus. The rare and extremely beautiful cruets from the Chapel of the "Madonna del Voto" in Siena Cathedral are made of rock crystal mounted in silver embellished with translucent enamels. Commissioned by Pope Alexander VII Chigi in the mid-17th century, these cruets may be considered masterpieces of the goldsmith's art on account of both their highly sophisticated engraving and decoration and of the craftsman's perfect mastery of his technique. Another product of Chigi patronage is the splendid Golden Rose designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and donated to Siena Cathedral by Alexander VII in 1658.
Goro di ser Neroccio, Chalice
Reliquary for St Galganus head
Golden Rose
Maestro di Tressa,
Madonna of Large Eyes
Gregorio di Cecco, Madonna of Humility and Saints
Sano di Pietro, St Bernardine preaching in Piazza del Campo
The second room, known as the Alfieri Room, contains Matteo di Giovanni's two extremely fine altarpieces depicting the Madonna Enthroned with St. Anthony and St. Bernardino (1460) from the Baptistry and the Madonna Enthroned with Four Saints and Angels (1480) from the Celsi Altar in the Cathedral. One of the most original works on display in this room is a panel painting depicting St. Paul Enthroned painted by Domenico Beccafumi in 1516, together with an elegant pair of polychrome terracotta statues of the Announcing Angel and the Virgin Annunciate which the artist modelled in circa 1545.
Matteo di Giovanni,
Madonna and Child Enthroned with St Anthony and St Bernardine
Domenico Beccafumi,
St Paul Enthroned
The Tapestry Room, covered floor to ceiling in 17th century wall hangings, showcases 19th century work such as the large models for the cusps on the Cathedral façade painted by the artists Luigi Mussini and Alessandro Franchi in 1878. Cases around the walls house an important collection of textiles from the Cathedral, while a showcase in the middle of the room contains the precious Casula in Lucca jasper made some time between the 13th and 14th centuries.
1 March - 31 May 10.30 am - 6 pm (the ticket office opens at 10 am)
1 June - 31 October: 10 am - 7 pm (the ticket office opens at 10 am)
1 November - 28 February 10.30 am - 5.30 pm (the ticket office opens at 10 am)
26 December - 6 January 10.30 am - 6 pm (the ticket office opens at 10 am)
A single ticket that allows access to the Cathedral roofs and to all the museum buildings of the complex.
FEES
ENTRANCE FEE
01/03 – 06/01 € 20,00
REDUCED FEE (CHILDREN FROM 7 TO 11 YEARS OLD)
01/03 – 06/01 € 5,00
FREE ADMISSION (CHILDREN UP TO 6 YEARS OLD)
A single ticket entitling the holder to visit all the museums in the complex.
Valid for three days from the day of purchase Opa Si Pass.
FEES (valid from 1st May 2021)
ENTRANCE FEES
26/06/ - 31/07; 18/08 - 17/10 (while the Floor is uncovered) € 15,00
01/01 - 25/06; 01/08 - 17/08; 18/10 - 31/12 € 13,00
REDUCED FEE (CHILDREN FROM 7 TO 11 YEARS OLD)
01/01 – 31/12 € 2,00
FREE ADMISSION
