STRONG BICHROMY IN PISTOIA : Study on polychromism in the late medieval religious architecture in Tuscany Vol. III

Abstract

This paper is an analysis of polychromatic religious architecture in Tuscany during the late medieval period. The purpose of the study is to reveal the types of strong bichromy in Pistoia by analyzing its patterns. The bichromy in Pistoia has three features. The first is that the patterns of bichromy on Pisa-Romanesque facades are different from one on the facade with Gothic elements; the latter has light, contrasting and intricate bands when compared to the deeper bands of the former. Secondly, they have complicated lozenge figures. The third feature is the coexistence of bands and complicated figures. Comparisons with polychromy in other Tuscan regions suggests that the strong bichromy in Pistoia has developed independently and has the specific characteristics of polychromy in Tuscany.