La cappella di San Pietro nel duomo di Napoli e il problema di Montano d'Arezzo: proposte per una revisione

This article examines the original function of Saint Peter’s chapel in the Cathedral of Naples. The earliest frescoes suggest that the chapel was initially intended for the exclusive use of the archbishop rather than as a burial place for the Minutolo family, whose patronage is documented only from 1333 onward. Considered within the broader presbyterial context of the cathedral, the transept appears to constitute a coherent iconographic program celebrating the apostolic foundations of the Neapolitan episcopal see. Stylistic analysis supports dating the chapel and its frescoes to the episcopate of Giacomo da Viterbo (1303–1308), with the decoration reflecting the early diffusion of Giotto’s innovations in southern Italy, prior to Pietro Cavallini’s activity in Naples. The paintings further reveal strong ties to the Roman school, particularly to Jacopo Torriti and Filippo Rusuti. Finally, the article reassesses the corpus traditionally attributed to the painter of Saint Peter’s chapel, questioning the long-standing identification with Montano d’Arezzo.