San Gimignano artworks by Filippino Lippi return from US exhibition

Two circular paintings by Filippino Lippi have returned to the Pinacoteca in San Gimignano after being displayed in the United States, where they were part of a major international exhibition and the subject of new scientific analysis.

The works, depicting the Angel Announcing and the Virgin Annunciate, were loaned to the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio for the exhibition Filippino Lippi and Rome. During the loan, the paintings were shown alongside another large tondo by the artist already held in the American museum, offering a rare opportunity to compare works from different collections.

International collaboration and research

The loan enabled a series of diagnostic investigations never previously carried out on the San Gimignano paintings. Using infrared reflectography, specialists identified underdrawings and preparatory changes beneath the painted surface, providing new insight into Lippi’s working methods.

The analyses were conducted free of charge as part of the collaboration with the Cleveland museum, highlighting the role of international partnerships in advancing research on Renaissance artworks.

In addition to the scientific work, the American institution funded the restoration of another painting from the Civic Museums of San Gimignano and financed the production of two new display cases for the tondi, with a total value of around €15,000.

A global network of museums

The Cleveland exhibition brought together works from major museums worldwide, including institutions in New York, London, Florence and Berlin. Within this context, the participation of the San Gimignano paintings contributed to placing the Tuscan town within a broader international narrative of Renaissance art.

The exhibition focused on Filippino Lippi’s development between Florence and Rome, exploring how exposure to ancient Roman imagery influenced his style and iconography.

Back on display in San Gimignano

Following their return, the two tondi are now on display in newly designed cases inside the Pinacoteca, housed in the historic Palazzo Comunale.

The paintings were originally commissioned in 1482 by local civic authorities to decorate the Sala dell’Udienza, a key institutional space in the town. Their carved wooden frames, added later, were made around 1490 by a local craftsman.

Practical information

The Pinacoteca is part of the Civic Museums of San Gimignano. Open from 10 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

The return of the paintings highlights how international loans can go beyond exhibition purposes, generating research, conservation and long-term improvements for local museum collections.

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