Perugino on display in Bettona
Among the works in the Bettona picture gallery are two paintings attributed to Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino: St. Anthony of Padua and the Madonna of Mercy with Saints Stephen, Jerome and the patrons. In addition to these, the Gonfalone di Sant’Anna, is probably by a follower of Perugino, and the collection includes works by renowned artists such as Alunno, Tiberio di Assisi and Dono Doni.
St. Anthony of Padua and patrons is painted in tempera on canvas (143 x 68 cm) and shows the Saint standing with his attributes of a book and a flame, against the background of a parapet with a soldier at his feet. An inscription at the bottom reads: BOLO DE MARAGLIA DA PEROGA. QUANDO FO PREGIONE DE FRANCIOSE / CHE FO ADDI XI DE FEBRAIO MDXII PETRUS PINXIT DE CASTRO PLEBLIS. The inscription indicates that this is an ex-voto of Bartolomeo da Maraglia, a condottiere of the Baglioni family. The work, characteristic of the painter's late maturity (1512), is executed in warm, light colours, with soft drawing and good proportions, and presents a compositional scheme repeated in other works by the Umbrian master, such as the Blessed Giacomo della Marca in the National Gallery of Umbria.