Margarita Pellegrini and the Pellegrini Chapel at San Bernardino, Verona, 1528–1557

Abstract:

The Pellegrini chapel in Verona, commissioned by Margarita Pellegrini, designed by Michele Sanmichele, and built between 1529 and 1557, shows how masculine conventions could be modified to demonstrate a woman's taste, to honor her families by birth and marriage, and to honor Saint Anne, patron of childbirth and mothers. The fact that it was meant only for the burial of Margarita and her son Niccolò allowed Sanmichele to design it as perfectly circular, considered as the best kind of centrally planned building, whereas chapels for the burial of adult males had to be square to accommodate full-size tombs. Unable to hand on the chapel to a single line of heirs, Isabella placed the charge for completing the work in the hands of the College of Notaries of Verona, providing the necessary endowment in her will.

Keywords: Italy (Verona); Women; Pellegrini, Margarita; Sanmichele, Michele; Chapels

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/1477-4658.00203