Filippino Lippi tondos return to the Pinacoteca of San Gimignano

Filippino Lippi tondos return to the Pinacoteca of San Gimignano

Two tondos by Filippino Lippi, depicting the Announcing Angel and the Announced Virgin, have returned to the Pinacoteca of San Gimignano after being lent to an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Their return provided an opportunity for further research and improved conservation measures.

• Works: the two round paintings by Filippino Lippi (1457–1504).
• International loan: the paintings were shown alongside another large tondo by the artist held in Cleveland, highlighting phases of his Florentine and Roman production.
• Diagnostic research: infrared reflectography performed during the loan—never done before on these panels—revealed underlying drawings and preparatory interventions not visible to the naked eye.
• Support and conservation: the Cleveland museum funded the restoration of a painting in the Civic Museums of San Gimignano and provided two display cases for the permanent exhibition of the tondos, with a total value of €15,000.
• Historical background: the tondos were commissioned in 1482 by the Priors and Captains for the Audience Hall of the Town Hall; the carved frames are attributed to Antonio da Colle, around 1490.
• Visitor information: the Pinacoteca is open from 10:00 to 19:30 (last admission 19:00). Check the official San Gimignano museums website for current opening times and guided tours.

Participation in an international exhibition has increased both the visibility and the scholarly knowledge of these works. Visitors can now see the tondos displayed in newly made cases that enhance their visual impact and ensure better long-term preservation.