Cherubino Bed & Breakfast

From Piero della Francesca’s magnificent fresco ‘La Resurrezione di Cristo’ (The Resurrection) located in Sansepolcro’s Museo Civico to the various important frescoes and paintings to be found within the town’s Cathedral (among them works by Bartolomeo della Gatta, Perugino and Matteo di Giovanni), there is a rich and eclectic array of art to take in during your stay.

Alberti is another name you will frequently see mentioned around the town; Cherubino Alberti being just one member of this talented art dynasty, which also included his brothers Giovanni and Alessandro.

The best known of the siblings, Cherubino was born in Sansepolcro in 1552 to Alberto di Giovanni Alberti - an architect, wood carver and painter. Alberto spent time as master carver in Arezzo, where he worked on the choir stalls in the Cathedral, as well as executing works in Rome between 1564 and 1586. Examples of his carvings can also be seen in a number of churches at Città di Castello, a short drive/train ride from Sansepolcro.

It was for engraving and printmaking that Cherubino became celebrated in his early career. Having studied in Rome with the Flemish engraver Cornelius Cort he would mainly base his engravings on the works of other artists - among them Raphael, Michelangelo, Polidoro da Caravaggio and Pellegrino Tibaldi as well as drawing inspiration from ancient statues.

Later on in his life Cherubino worked on frescoes for palaces and churches - his most famous being a fresco for the Vatican’s Sala Clementina, which he completed with his brother Giovanni. Cherubino died in Rome on 19th October 1615, at which time he was director of the Academy of Saint Luke in Rome, a prestigious association of artists.

To see a fine example of the Alberti brothers’ work in Sansepolcro make for the Chiesa di San Rocco - a delightful little church built in 1554. Inside (on the right) you will see two angels in adoration which were painted by Alessandro and Giovanni Alberti. Beneath the church is the Oratory of San Rocco (this can be entered from the church or from via Traversari.) Its interior consists of a large vaulted hall with a cycle of frescoes representing scenes from the Passion of Christ - painted by Alessandro, Cherubino and Giovanni Alberti in 1588-89, on commission of the Crucifix Society