Stolen 14th-Century Starnina Painting Recovered and Donated to Palazzo Abatellis
A tempera panel created by Gherardo di Jacopo, also referred to as Starnina, was stopped from being illegally exported from Sicily. Measuring 117 x 86 cm and originating from the late 14th century, this artwork was part of the Chiaramonte Bordonaro collection in Palermo. The owners attempted to sell it to an international gallerist, but document discrepancies were uncovered by the Export Office, under the direction of Selima Giuliano. The investigation was carried out by the Carabinieri Nucleo per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale. Now classified as public property, the painting, a Thronus Gratiae, is housed in the Galleria regionale di Palazzo Abatellis, with an introduction by Andrea De Marchi. Scholars attribute it to Starnina's Spanish period (c. 1380–1401), reflecting Iberian influences. Starnina's work impacted artists such as Lorenzo Monaco and Masolino da Panicale.
Key facts
- Starnina's tempera panel (117 x 86 cm) from late 14th century was prevented from illegal export
- Work belonged to Chiaramonte Bordonaro collection in Palermo
- Export attempt by owners to sell to foreign gallerist was stopped
- Soprintendenza di Palermo (Selima Giuliano) and Carabinieri TPC Palermo intervened
- Painting now public property, donated to Galleria regionale di Palazzo Abatellis (director Maddalena De Luca)
- Presented with lecture by Andrea De Marchi (University of Florence)
- Temporarily displayed in sottocoro, near Trionfo della Morte
- Likely to be placed in Sala VII/VIIA with other Tuscan/Ligurian panels
- Dated to Starnina's Spanish period (c. 1380-1401) under John I of Castile
- Shows Iberian influences: calligraphic lines, cusped profile, granulated gold ground
- Uses lapis lazuli for blue, cinnabar for blood, raised wax seals
- Structure indicates Spanish retablo, not Italian polyptych
- Starnina is a master of International Gothic
- Influenced Lorenzo Monaco and Masolino da Panicale
- Other works: Dormitio Virginis (Philadelphia Museum of Art), Madonna dell'Umiltà (Uffizi)
Entities
Artists
- Gherardo di Jacopo (Starnina)
- Andrea De Marchi
- Emanuele Zappasodi
- Lorenzo Monaco
- Masolino da Panicale
- Giorgio Vasari
- John I of Castile
- Helga Marsala
Institutions
- Soprintendenza ai Beni culturali di Palermo
- Nucleo Carabinieri per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale di Palermo
- Procura di Palermo
- Galleria regionale di Palazzo Abatellis
- Università di Firenze
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Uffizi
- Artribune
Locations
- Sicily
- Palermo
- Italy
- Spain
- Toledo
- Valencia
- Tuscany
- Florence
- Palazzo Abatellis
- Sala VII/VIIA
- sottocoro
- ex cappella