Biccherne

Biccherne to małe malowane tabliczki, stworzone jako okładki dla oficjalnych dokumentów obywatelskich rządu w Siena (Włochy) w okresie od 13w do 17w. Sceny malowane były przez znamienitych malarzy danego okresu jak [[wikipedia:pl:Ambrogio_Lorenzetti|Ambrogio Lorenzetti], Sano di Pietro czy Duccio di Buoninsegna.

The biccherne derive their name from the government agency that originally commissioned them: in 1257 the Office of the Biccherna, the most important financial branch of Sienese government, charged with managing all the revenues and expenses of the city, inaugurated the custom of commissioning panel paintings from the best artists in the community to function as the covers of its semi-annual collection of public ledgers. Shortly thereafter, the Office of the General Gabella, which was responsible for all duties and other taxes on commodities and business transactions, followed suit. Eventually this practice was adopted by other agencies and independent organizations of the city-state such as the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala (Saint Mary of the Stairway) and the university.