Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
Encyclopedia
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; its decoration employed the major baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
studios and artists in Genoa in the 17th century.
It is named Vastato because the area where it was built was outside the walls of the city, in an area where houses had been demolished (devastated) for defensive reasons. In Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, vastinium referred to a safety belt within the protective bastions.
History
The church was begun by the FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s in 1520 in a site previsouly occupied by the small church of Santa Maria del Prato, belonging to the Humiliati
Humiliati
The Humiliati were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a Papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century.-Origin:Its origin is obscure...
. Works were however halted in 1537, and in 1591 the Lomellini family continued the reconstruction, directed by Taddeo Carlone
Taddeo Carlone
Taddeo Carlone was a Swiss-Italian sculptor and architect.A native of Rovio, in Ticino, he moved with his family to Genoa. He became the head of an important family of artists, including his sons Giovanni Battista and Giovanni, who were noted painters.He died in 1613 and is buried in Genoa at the...
.
In the early 17th century the rich Baroque decoration was executed, with Andrea Ansaldo in charge of completing the works, and in particular the dome. The current Neoclassicist façade dates to 1830-1840s, designed by Carlo Barabino. The church was damaged by Allied bombings during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Interior decoration of the nave
Artists responsible for the interior decoration include Giovanni Benedetto CastiglioneGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione was an Italian Baroque artist, painter, printmaker and draftsman, of the Genoese school. He is best known now for his elaborate engravings, and as the inventor of the printmaking technique of monotyping. He was known as Il Grechetto in Italy and in France as Le...
with St. James defeats Moors; Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (GBC) with St. James opens Coimbra gates to King Ferdinand; Valerio Castello
Valerio Castello
Valerio Castello was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was very active during his short life in Genoa.He was the youngest son of Bernardo Castello, who died when Valerio was six year old...
with Martyrdom of St. James and St. Peter christens St. James, Giovanni Domenico Cappellino
Giovanni Domenico Cappellino
Giovanni Domenico Cappellino was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in his natal city of Genoa. He was the pupil of the painter Giovanni Battista Paggi. At age 22, he painted a Saint Sebastian for the church of Santa Sabina. He contributed a canvas to the Oratory of San...
with Preaching of the apostle, Domenico Piola
Domenico Piola
Domenico Piola was a Genoese painter of the Baroque period. His family studio was highly prolific.-Biography:Piola was an Italian painter, draughtsman, printmaker and designer...
with Martyrdom of the saint, Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotti
Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotti
Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotti was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Genoa.He trained under Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. Bertolotti contributed paintings to the Oratory of San Giacomo della Marina and the Basilica della SS Annunziata. He painted a Visitation of the Virgin to...
with Aurelio and Giovanni, Aurelio Lomi
Aurelio Lomi
Aurelio Lomi was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance and early-Baroque periods, active mainly in his native town of Pisa, Tuscany.He may have initially been trained by his father, Giovanni Battista Lomi, but soon he...
with Daughters of Zebedee introduce Jesus & saints.
At the central crossing, the cupola dome has an Assumption fresco, considered the masterpiece of Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo
Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo
thumb|320px|The dome of the Annunziata, Genoa.Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo was an Italian painter active mainly in Genoa.He was born in Voltri, now part of the comune' of Genoa, the son of a merchant. He trained under Orazio Cambiaso and possibly collaborated with Bernardo Strozzi...
, and restored later by Gregorio De Ferrari
Gregorio De Ferrari
Gregorio de Ferrari was an Italian Baroque painter of the Genoese school.-Biography:De Ferrari was born in Porto Maurizio. He came to Genoa to study law but instead became a painter. He apprenticed with Domenico Fiasella from 1664–69, and in this period he may have painted in the style of...
. Above the door to the center nave is a Last Supper by Giulio Cesare Procaccini
Giulio Cesare Procaccini
Giulio Cesare Procaccini was an Italian painter and sculptor of the early Baroque era in Milan.-Biography:Born in Bologna he was son of the Mannerist painter Ercole Procaccini the Elder and brother of Camillo Procaccini and Carlo Antonio Procaccini...
, flanked by two Prophets attributed to either Gioacchino Assereto
Gioacchino Assereto
Gioacchino Assereto was an Italian painter of the early Baroque period, active in Genoa.He initially apprenticed with Luciano Borzone and later Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo. He painted two vault frescoes in the church of Santissima Annunziata del Vastato: David and Abimelech and Santi Giovanni and...
, Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo
Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo
thumb|320px|The dome of the Annunziata, Genoa.Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo was an Italian painter active mainly in Genoa.He was born in Voltri, now part of the comune' of Genoa, the son of a merchant. He trained under Orazio Cambiaso and possibly collaborated with Bernardo Strozzi...
or Giulio Benso
Giulio Benso
Giulio Benso was a Genovese painter of the early Baroque. He is known as one of the followers of the style of Luca Cambiasi....
; on the ceiling, canvases depicting an Epiphany, Entry to Jerusalem, and Prayer in the Garden by Giovanni Carlone, while the Resurrection, Jesus appears to his Mother and Coronation of Virgin were painted by his brother, Giovanni Battista Carlone
Giovanni Battista Carlone
Giovanni Battista Carlone was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa.Carlone was born and died in Genoa. He came from a family of artists: his father Taddeo was a sculptor and his older brother Giovanni Bernardo Carlone, a well-trained painter. He may have had some...
.
Decoration of chapels
The first chapel’s right wall has a frescoed Nativity attributed to the Moncalvo; Agar & Angel by Giovanni Andrea de FerrariGiovanni Andrea de Ferrari
Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa. He was a member of the family of Genoese artists, with surnames de Ferrari, which also included Orazio de Ferrari and Gregorio De Ferrari. He collaborated on some projects with Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo...
. The ceiling is frescoed with Miracles by St. Bernardino and Simone & Giuda evangelizing Persians by Giovanni Battista Carlone
Giovanni Battista Carlone
Giovanni Battista Carlone was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa.Carlone was born and died in Genoa. He came from a family of artists: his father Taddeo was a sculptor and his older brother Giovanni Bernardo Carlone, a well-trained painter. He may have had some...
.
The 2nd chapel on the right has an altarpiece and a painting depicting Miracles of St. Bernardino, as well as a ceiling fresco of Catechism of St. Matthew by G.B. Carlone and another Miracle painting by Aurelio Lomi
Aurelio Lomi
Aurelio Lomi was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance and early-Baroque periods, active mainly in his native town of Pisa, Tuscany.He may have initially been trained by his father, Giovanni Battista Lomi, but soon he...
.
The 3rd chapel is frescoed by St. Thomas Aquinas before Crucifixion by Domenico Piola
Domenico Piola
Domenico Piola was a Genoese painter of the Baroque period. His family studio was highly prolific.-Biography:Piola was an Italian painter, draughtsman, printmaker and designer...
, and Saint Diego cures a blind child by Simone Barabino
Simone Barabino
Simone Barabino was an Italian painter of the late-Mannerist style. Born in Val de Polcevera, near Genoa, he was mainly active in his native city, where he trained with Bernardo Castello. He feuded with his master and left for Milan. There after some works, he stopped painting...
; Martyrdom of St. Sebastian and the ceiling St. James baptizes pagans by G.B. Carlone , and on the left wall is a St. Jerome by Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi
Bernardo Strozzi was a prominent and prolific Italian Baroque painter born and active mainly in Genoa, and also active in Venice.-Biography:Strozzi was born in Genoa. He was probably not related to the other Strozzi family....
.
The fourth chapel has an altarpiece of St. Louis G.B. Carlone ; on the walls, two episodes from the life of the saint, attributed to Claudius Francisco Beaumont; the vault is frescoed with Sant'Andrea adores the Cross by Domenico Fiasella
Domenico Fiasella
Domenico Fiasella was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Genoa. He was nicknamed Il Sarzana, after his birthplace.-Biography:...
.
The 5th chapel has an altarpiece of St. Peter of Alcantara adores the Cross by G.B. Carlone ; the wall has an Ecstasy of young Saint Francis attributed to Daniele Crespi
Daniele Crespi
Daniele Crespi was an Italian painter of the Baroque era. He was born in Busto Arsizio, and active mostly in the Milan of Federico Borromeo....
; on the left a Madonna and Saints by Antonio Maria Piola under a fresco of Supper at Emmaus attributed to Strozzi; on the vault is frescoed St, Paul Preaching” by Fiasella.
The 6th chapel has an Annunciation altarpiece by Domenico Piola. The walls have paintings of a Presentation, Visitation and Prophet by Andrea Carlone
Andrea Carlone
Andrea Carlone was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in his natal city of Genoa.He was the son of the painter Giovanni Battista Carlone and Niccoletta Scorza. He traveled and painted extensively through Italy. After initial work with his father, he traveled to Venice for a...
; on the vault is frescoed St. Peter cures the lame by Gioacchino Assereto
Gioacchino Assereto
Gioacchino Assereto was an Italian painter of the early Baroque period, active in Genoa.He initially apprenticed with Luciano Borzone and later Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo. He painted two vault frescoes in the church of Santissima Annunziata del Vastato: David and Abimelech and Santi Giovanni and...
. The polychrome St. Anthony of Padua, Infant Jesus, & angels was sculpted by Pierre Puget; on the vault is frescoed Pentecost, and in the lunette over the arch that accesses the far chapel is Doubting St. Thomas, a fresco by G.B. Carlone.
The chapel to the right of the nave has a Blessed Andrea da Spello draws water from a stone, a canvas by G.B. Carlone; on the altar in the front, a Madonna sculpture by Leonardo Mirano (1618); to the right,Saint Domenico Soriano, altarpiece by Tommaso Clerici. On the left are three archangels by Clerici; on the cupola are frescoes by G.B. Carlone.
On the main altar is a Crucifixion by Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli
Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli
Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli was an Italian late-Baroque sculptor.Born in Massa Carrara, where he first worked under his father, a sculptor, in Finale Liguria and Savona. He worked in Genoa under his father-in-law Filippo Parodi for many years and was involved in portraiture. He accompanied Parodi...
; on the ceiling, Annunciation and Assumption, on the sidewalls, Presentation of Jesus in temple, all frescos by Giulio Benso
Giulio Benso
Giulio Benso was a Genovese painter of the early Baroque. He is known as one of the followers of the style of Luca Cambiasi....
; and Dispute with the doctors, painted from G.B. Carlone on design by Benso.
In the chapel to the left of the nave, on the right wall is a Nativity, by Luciano Borzone
Luciano Borzone
Luciano Borzone was an Italian painter of the Baroque period , active mainly in his natal city of Genoa....
; beneath it is a high relief in marble by Santo Varni of the Madonna & Saints, on the altar in the front, Madonna & Child sculpted by Leonardo Ferrandina; on the altar on the left is a Crucifixion by Francisco Scotto; to right, St. Peter denies Christ and Joseph explains dreams, by Strozzi; on the left, Wedding at Cana and Christ at column, perhaps by Luca Saltarello; and frescoes by Giuseppe Isola.
In the left transept, in the niche over the altar is a San Pasquale adoring Holy name, a polychorome work by Anton Maria Maragliano
Anton Maria Maragliano
Anton Maria Maragliano was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, known primarily for his wooden statues...
; in the ceiing and in the lunettes over the arched entrance to the far chapel, an Ascension and Supper at Emmaus, fresco by Giovanni Carlone.
The tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
of the 6th chapel (left of the nave) is frescoed with a Madonna sculpted by Taddeo Carlone; on the vault is frescoed Abraham offers bread & wine to Melchisedech, by Assereto. The 5th chapel has Hope and Charity, statues by Ponsonelli; on the vault is frescoed Rebecca at the well by Fiasella.
The 4th chapel has an altarpiece of the Immaculate Conception by Domenico Piola. The 3rd chapel has a “Crucifixion” by Luca Cambiaso; on the left, Saint Francesco baptizes Moors by G.B. Carlone. The 2nd chapel has an altarpiece of the Transit by St. Clair by Giovanni Battista Paggi
Giovanni Battista Paggi
Giovanni Battista Paggi was an Italian painter of the Late-Renaissance and early-Baroque.He was born in Genoa into the well-to-do family of his father Pellegrino...
.
The first chapel has two canvases of the Martyrdom of St. Clemente (altar and wall) by G.B. Carlone; above a St. Lorenzo and St. Stefano, canvases by De Ferrari; on the outer vault are the damaged frescoes of Joshua crossing Jordan by G.B. Carlone .
External links
- 360° interactive high resolution panoramic photo of the interiors of the Basilica Photo by Hans von Weissenfluh