Piero della Francesca (c. 1415 – October 12, 1492) was a painter of the early Renaissance. His painting was characterized by its serene quality, its use of geometric forms and perspective. His most famous work is the cycle of frescoes The Legend of the True Cross in the church of San Francesco in the Tuscan town of Arezzo.
Wikipedia link to Piero della Francesca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piero_della_Francesca
Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu (December 8, 1890 – August 28, 1959) visited the church in Arezzo and was inspired to write a three movement work for orchestra entitled Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca.
Wikipedia link to Martinu:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohuslav_Martin%C5%AF
Below the paintings is a performance of the first movement of this work. I think Martinu’s music captures the feeling in the frescoes. I have always found a luminous quality to Martnu’s music escpecially in the strings for which he had a special affinity since he was also a violinist. Conductor : Sir Charles Mackerras Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (Supraphon33co-1056).
daevinadante 