The Arliquera

The “arliquiera” had two large doors divided into compartments, today the only remaining element of the work. The two panels were entirely painted by Vecchietta, who depicted inside the Stories of the Passion of Christ, while on the outside the saints and blessed of Siena on a gilded damask background. The inner side with the Stories of the Passion, arranged in eight panels, is a clear reference to the most precious relic the cabinet contained: the sacred nail of the cross. In sequence after the Last Supper are the Washing of the Feet, the Kiss of Judas, Christ before Caiaphas, Christ before Herod, the Flagellation, Christ mocked, and the Ascent to Calvary. The outer side, instead, is divided into twelve compartments depicting local saints and blessed: Saint Ansano, Saint Victor, Saint Savinus, and Saint Crescentius, the blessed Ambrogio Sansedoni flanked by Saint Bernardino and the blessed Agostino Novello; next follow Andrea Gallerani, Saint Catherine kneeling before the crucifix, Pier Pettinaio, the blessed Sorore, and Saint Galgano. All these figures are connected to the history and events of the hospital and the confraternity companies that had settled there. Above these depictions, in the lunette, are the Announcing Angel, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Annunciated Virgin to whom the church is dedicated.