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SIEMENS. 145 SIENESE SCHOOL OF PAINTING. collected works were published in 1889. Con- sult Pole, Life of William tiiemcns (London, 1889). SIEMERING, ze'iiic-rlng. Rudolf (1835—). A Cienii:!!! sculptor, born at Konigsberg. Having freijuenU'd the academy there, he studied after- wards under Blaser in Berlin, where his first important work was the marble statue of King William, for the Exchange, and where, in 1882, he completed the handsome monument to Dr. Griife, the famous oculist. This was preceded by the monument of Frederick the Great (18771 at Marienburg and followed by the statue of Luther (188^) at Eislebcn and the "War Monument" (ISSS) on the JLirket Square at Leipzig, his principal work. Besides the "Wash- ington Memorial" at Fairmount Park, Phila- delphia ( 188.3, unveiled 1897 ) , there are to be noticed the equestrian statue of William I. (1897) <at JIagdeburg. and in Berlin the heroic st.atue of William 1. (1892) in the Hall of the Rulers, at the Arsenal, the group in bronze of "Saint Gertrude" (1890) on the Gertraudt Bridge, and the marble group of "Frederick William I." (1900) in the Sieges-Allee. SIEMIRADZKI, sye'me-riidz'ke, Hexkyk (1843-1002). A Polish" historical painter, born near Kharkov, Little Russia. After frequenting the Academy of Saint Petersburg he traveled in Germany, France, and Ital.v, and spent some time in JIunich. In 1872 he settled in Rome, whence he sent home his "Christ and the Adulteress" (1873, Alexander Museum, Saint Petersburg). The subjects of most of his brilliantly colored pictures are scenes from the life of ancient Greece and Rome, witness his first large composition, "The Living Torches of Nero" ( 1876, National Museum, Cracow), which was exhibited all over Europe and brought him the decoration of the Legion of Honor in 1878. He also painted "Orgy in the Time of Tiberius," "Vase or Woman ?" (1878, Kestner Museum, Hanover). "Sword Dfince" (1880), "Phryneat Eleusis" (1889, Alex- ander Museum, Saint Petersburg), also themes from the New Testament, to wit, "Christ with Mary and Martha" (1886, ib.), "The Last Sup- per" (Church of the Saviour, Moscow), and ■'Christ Pouring Oil on the Troubled Waters" (Evangelical Church, Cracow). SIENA, se-a'na. The capital of the Province of Siena, in Tuscany, Italy, picturesquely situated on the crests of three hills, over 1000 feet above the sea, near the Elsa, 60 miles by rail south of Florence and only 30 miles in a straight line (Map: Italy, F 4). It is a delightful mediaeval city. The climate is salubrious, the weather, owing to the elevation, not being hot in summer. The town is irregularly built, with crooked, steep, and narrow streets, and retains its ancient walls. The centre of life in Siena is the fine Piazza del Canipo, bordered by rich palaces. Of these struc- tures the Palazzo Pubblieo and the Palazzo del Governo are the most striking. The former is of brick, was begun in 1289, and combines Gothic with Renaissance features. The interior is cov- ered with mural decorations. The Palazzo del Governo. dating from 1469, has an interesting facade and holds the important archives of Siena. The fine brick Gothic Buonsignori Palace is also worthy of mention. Siena is famous for its cathedral. This edifice, which is situated on the crowning point of the city, dates from the thirteenth century. It has a dome, a campanile, and is irregular in shape. Its fac.-ade, begun in 1284 and planned by Gio- vanni Pisano, is a far-famed rival of that of the Orvieto Cathedral, and is composed of black, white, and red marble, varied with profuse deco- rations. The interior is also remarkable, its paement ornamented with graffito scenes from biblical history being of exceptional interest. There are also in the cathedral a noteworthy portal, Donatello's bronze statue of John the Bap- tist, and a rare pulpit by Niccola Pisano and others. The splendid structure containing the cathedral library was built in 1495 and was decorated by Pinturicchio. The Church of San Giovanni is noteworthy. It was begun in the early fourteenth century and has an uncom- pleted facade. The Oratorio di San Bernardino is important for its pictures by Sodoma. In San Domenico is the Chapel of Saint Catharine of Siena, where the head of the saint is supposed to lie in a reliquary. In the Fontegiusta Church is a splendid high altar. Siena is a lively trading and manufacturing town, weaving being the conspicuous industry. Cloth, silk, velvet, and furniture are exported. The university was famous in the Middle Ages, but now has only two faculties — one of law, and one of medicine and surgery. The Reale Collegio Tolomei (lyceum) deserves to be mentioned. The institute of fine arts is notable for its early Sienese specimens. The Opera del Duomo also possesses an art collection. The school of arts and trades was founded in 1870. The public librarv, dating from 1663, contains 75,000 vol- umes and 500 manuscripts. The population in 1901 was 28,355. History. Siena (Lat. Sena Julia and Colonia Scniensis) was made a Roman colony in the time of Augustus. The city rose to great importance in the Middle Ages. The people wrested the governing power from the nobles in the twelfth century. The city became a Ghibelline strong- hold, and in 1200 its citizens defeated the Guelphs of Florence at Monte Aperto. A few years later, however, it was forced by Charles of Anjou to join the league of the Guelph cities of Tuscany. It was at the height of its pros- perity at the time of the Renaissance. In 1557 it was annexed to the Florentine dominions. In the history of art from 1200 to 1.500 Siena stands in the front rank among Italian cities. Consult: Andreucci, Siena e la sun proriiwia (Siena, 1886): Richter, Siena (Leipzig, 1901); Douglas. History of Siena (London, 1902). SIENA, CorNCiL of. A council originally summoned to meet at Pavia by Pope Martin V., in pursuance of the undertaking entered into by him at the Council of Constance, but transferred two months later on sanitary grounds to Siena, where it sat from July 21. 1423. to March 7, 1424. Owing to the uncertainty of the times so soon after the close of the great schism, it was unable to effect much. It condemned the Wic- lifite and Hussite doctrines, and took measures for a general sup])ression of heresy. Before its ad- journment Basel was chosen as the place of as- sembly for the next general council. See Basel, CoiNCIT. OF. SIENESE SCHOOL OF PAINTING. The principal Italian school of painting, next to the