Sepulchre of the Della Gherardesca family

myminifactory

This is the top section of a sepulchre honoring the Della Gherardesca Family, crafted by Lupo di Francesco during the first half of the 14th Century. The magnificent marble and polychrome sculpture originates from the Church of Saint Francesco. The Gherardeschi or della Gherardesca were a powerful family in the Republic of Pisa with roots dating back to the 11th Century, tracing their ancestry back to the Longobards. By the mid-13th Century, they had risen to become one of the most influential families in Pisa. They demonstrated strong Ghibelline sympathies and held control over the county of Donoratico. A Gherardesca Chapel is located within the church of Saint Francis in Pisa.