L'Adoration des Mages

6 September 1479

Elected to Cortona's Council of Eighteen

Signorelli served his town all his life: after this election to the Council of Eighteen (Consiglio dei Diciotto) he was prior twelve times between 1480 and 1523, was elected ten more times to the Council of Eighteen and twelve times to the General Council.

c. 1484

Returns to live in Cortona

After working in Florence, Siena and Rome, Signorelli returned to live in Cortona in his early forties; with an established reputation, he remained based there for the rest of his life, often travelling to the cities of the region to fulfil commissions.

1488

Honorary citizen of Città di Castello

In 1488 Signorelli became an honorary citizen of Città di Castello in Umbria, where he worked and lived permanently in the last years of the 15th century.

1490s

At the head of a workshop in great demand

Signorelli worked across central Italy at the head of a much sought-after workshop, and his standing grew during the 1490s.

1497

Invited to paint at Monte Oliveto Maggiore

Fra Domenico Airoldi, abbot and general of the Olivetan order, invited Signorelli to paint the monastery with the “Story of Saint Benedict”. He completed the eight lunettes of the north side before leaving the work for his most important commission, in Orvieto; from 1505 Sodoma finished the cycle.

5 April 1499

Contract for the chapel frescoes in Orvieto

Signorelli undertook to complete the vault of the cathedral's Cappella Nuova, begun by Fra Angelico, for 200 ducats, and the walls for a further 600, with lodging and a monthly allowance of two measures of wine and two quarters of corn. The contract required him to consult the Masters of the Sacred Page on theological matters — the first recorded instance of an artist receiving theological advice.