One of his many famous paintings is L’incontro a Teano (Encounter at Teano), a successful example of patriotic iconography, painted for the Siena Town Hall, in which the artist’s great interest in historical painting is evident.

Aldi travelled extensively, but his interest in religious themes and his bond with his homeland were constant. For example, he painted La Madonna col Bambino che consegna a San Paolo della Croce il progetto del convento (The Madonna with Child who presents Saint Paul of the Cross with the convent plan), which features a vast perspective of the Orbetello lagoon, for the Passionists of Mount Argentario. For the Church of Saint Nicholas at Capalbio, he painted a large canvas of San Nicola di Bari (Saint Nicholas of Bari). For the Pitigliano Cathedral, he painted the Episodi della vita di San Gregorio VII (Episodes from the Life of Saint Gregory VII).

The Town Hall of Manciano, which erected a monument to the artist in Piazza Garibaldi in 1911 with funds raised by the public, houses a canvas painted in the artist’s youth. Giuramento di Ghino di Tacco (The Oath of Ghino di Tacco) mixes historical interest and the scrupulous reconstruction of setting with a marked affection for a well-loved rebel character from romantic culture. This demonstrates that Pietro Aldi, from the very start of his career, was greatly attached to the history of his land.

Pitigliano, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Two paintings by Pietro Aldi, one of the greatest Maremman artists, born near Manciano, are on display in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul.

These valuable paintings, commissioned by the Cathedral Chapter in 1883, depict two important moments in the life of Ildebrando da Sovana, the future Saint Gregory VII, who is also present in the second chapel to the right (where a statue of him can be seen) and in the square named after him in front of the Duomo.

The two works of art, the Predestinazione del giovanetto Ildebrando (Predestination of the young Ildebrando) and Arrigo IV a Canossa (Harold IV in Canossa) hang on the walls to the side of the main altar and were solemnly unveiled on September 13th 1885.

The paintings contain the historical and religious motifs so well-loved by the artist, rendered with great emotional intensity and painstaking historical reconstruction of the backgrounds.

The preparatory cartoons of the paintings were displayed for the public in the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop’s Palace) a few days before the paintings were unveiled in the Cathedral.

Signed and dated, they are currently housed in Pitigliano’s Diocesan Museum.