Guidoriccio da Fogliano, condottiere, by Simone Martini


The successful condottiere Guidoriccio da Fogliano, at the siege of Montemassi, as he appears in Simone Martini's 1328 fresco in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. Fogliano had recaptured two towns that had rebelled against the authority of Siena, and was honoured in this fresco, which shows him riding richly accoutred and carrying his baton of office.

The fresco of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, depicting the conquest of the castles of Montemassi and Sassoforte in 1328, formed part of a fresco cycle "Castelli" which occupied the upper part of the wall opposite to the Maestą in the Sala del Mappamondo. It is one of the earliest of such commemorative images, and contains a vast panoramic landscape with the tents of the soldiers in the background. The cycle, commemorating the castles conquered by the Sienese, was initiated in 1314 by the representation of the Castle of Giuncarico, it was continued by the Guidoriccio, in 1331, with the Castles of Arcidosso and Piano.

See a detail of the Sienese Camp with Tents and Flags, to the right of Guidoriccio da Fogliano in the Fresco by Simone Martini
Back to the wider image of Guidoriccio da Fogliano, condottiere, by Simone Martini. Palazzo Pubblico in Siena.