Address: Borgo Pinti, 58
In the Benedictine convent built in the thirteenth century
(but altered in the fifteenth century), next to the beautiful
church of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi, one can
visit the Chapter House which was decorated by Pietro Perugino
(born in 1445/50 at Città della Pieve and died in 1523 at
Fontignano). The decoration consists of a fresco which occupies
the end wall of the chapter house, which is divided into three
arches that Perugino united by using the same scenery: the
central arch depicts Christ on the cross and Mary Magdalene, on
the left: St. Bernard and the Virgin, and on the left John the
Evangelist and St. Benedict.
The work was carried out between 1493-1496; a period of very
intense activity for the Umbrian master whose style had been
developed in the school of Piero della Francesca and that of
Verrocchio in Florence. The Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi displays
the lofty serenity and the "natural" balance of
Perugino's better works in which the harmonious and luminous
landscape is a significant component.
