Biccherna

The Biccherna was the magistrate or chancellery of Finance from the 13th to the 14th century for the republic and then city of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy.

Finances of the City in Time of Peace and War (1468) by Benvenuto di Giovanni,

The records of the office are not only important because Siena was one of the earliest and most important Banking centers of Europe and Italy, but also because the books documenting the records were bound with painted leather covers, often by major artists of their day.^[1]

Many of these mainly secular covers are displayed in the Archives of the State of Siena located in the Palazzo Piccolomini located on via Banchi di Sotto corner via Rinaldini.

Gallery

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  Table of Camerlengo Don Gregorio, Umiliati Monk (1324)

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  Table with Annuciation (1445) by Giovanni di Paolo

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  Table of the camarlengo Ildebrandino Pagliaresi (1264), by Dietisalvi di speme

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  Table # 72

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  Madonna of the Earthquake by Francesco di Giorgio

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  Pope Pius II Names his Nephew Cardinal by Francesco di Giorgio

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  Table with the Office of the Camerlengo

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  Table with office of the tax-collector

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  Biccherna Cover: The Tribute Offering (c.1364) by Lippo Vanni

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  Tablet of Camarlingo Don Ugo, Monk of San Galgano (1258) by Gilio di Pietro

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  Pandolfo Petrucci enters through Porta Fontebranda

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  Siege of Sienese families in Montalcino in 1559

References

1. Encyclopedia Treccani, entry on Biccherna.