Girolamo del Pacchia

Madonna and Child with angels Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Girolamo del Pacchia (c. 1477 – after 1533), was an Italian painter.

Life

Madonna and Child with Saint John, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence

He was born, probably in Siena, likely into a family of modest means, probably son of a Hungarian cannon-founder. It is believed that he began his artistic training early, possibly studying with Domenico Beccafumi, a master painter and one of the most important figures of Sienese art during the early 16th century. Through this connection, del Pacchia absorbed much of Beccafumi's style, marked by graceful figures and a use of color and light that conveyed a sense of harmony and elegance. Del Pacchia’s work is rooted in the tradition of Sienese painting but was also shaped by broader Renaissance developments, especially the influence of artists such as Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. His art was characterized by its balanced compositions, clear narrative elements, and the integration of figural and architectural space, which reflects the increasing sophistication of perspective and anatomy during the Renaissance.

One of del Pacchia’s most well-known stylistic contributions was his blending of the classical heritage of the Sienese school with the more contemporary developments of Central Italian painting, particularly the softer, more atmospheric qualities seen in the work of artists like Perugino and Raphael. Having joined a turbulent club named the Bardotti he disappeared from Siena in 1535, when the club was dispersed, and nothing of a later date is known about him. His most celebrated work is a fresco of the Nativity of the Virgin, in the Oratory of San Bernardino, Siena, a work cited as graceful and tender, with a certain artificiality.

Another renowned fresco, in the church of Santa Caterina, Siena, represents that saint on her visit to St Agnes of Montepulciano, who, having just expired, raises her foot by miracle. In the National Gallery, London there is a "Virgin and Child."

The forms of G. del Pacchia are fuller than those of Perugino (his principal model of style appears to have been in reality Franciabigio); the drawing is not always unexceptionable; the female heads have sweetness and beauty of feature, and some of the colouring has noticeable force. Despite not achieving the fame of some of his contemporaries, del Pacchia was respected for his refined style, and he continued to receive commissions throughout his life. By the time of his death, he had largely been overshadowed by other painters, but his work remains an important part of the Sienese Renaissance tradition.

While specific details of his death are unclear, he is known to have been active until at least 1534. His legacy, though somewhat overshadowed, can still be appreciated in the context of the rich artistic history of Siena during the Renaissance. His works can still be found in various collections and churches in Siena, offering a glimpse into the evolution of Sienese painting in the early 16th century.

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pacchia, Girolamo del, and Pacchiarotto, Jacopo s.v. Girolamo del Pacchia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 432.
• Freedberg, Sydney J. (1978). Pintura en Italia, 1500-1600. Editorial Cátedra, Madrid. ISBN 84-376-0153-3, página 121.
• The Grove Dictionary of Art, Macmillan Publishers (2000)