This catalogue, published for the exhibition celebrating the seventh centenary of the death of Iacopone da Todi, covers the life, works and complex figure of the saint within the context of the historical and cultural climate of the second half of the thirteenth century, examining the suggestive dialogue between his poetic output and thirteenth century Umbrian figurative art. The human, mystical and literary vicissitudes of Saint Iacopone are skilfully reconstructed through a rich collection of historical-documentary, hagiographic, literary and iconographic sources. Alongside this first section space is given to a considerable selection of artworks produced in Umbria at the time of Jacopone such as paintings on wood, sculptures, miniatures, and items of jewellery which represent the main themes touched upon by the saint in his writings.
Iacopo Benedetti da Todi, better known as Iacopone, (c.1230-1306), is one of the most fascinating figures from the origins of the Franciscan order and most certainly one of the very greatest poets of Italian literature. His historical notoriety dates from the last years of his life: his name appears in the so-called Manifesto di Lunghezza (10 May 1297), where the cardinals of the Colonna family supported the claims of the Spirituals, denouncing the illegitimacy of Boniface VIII's papacy; Iacopone was one of the official witnesses and suffered the consequences of papal reaction: excommunication, the siege of Palestrina and imprisonment (1298), he was released only after Boniface's death (1303).
The last years of Jacopone's life are the best known, being documented by some of his Laude; those to Celestine and Boniface are among his most celebrated. Little else is known of his life that can be considered historically reliable. The greater part of the information available comes from a biography written over five hundred years after the Franciscan's death.
Todi, Palazzo del Popolo
1 December 2006 - 2 May 2007
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