Prato Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of Prato is the main Catholic church of Prato
, Tuscany
, Central Italy
and seat of the bishop. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It is one of the most ancient churches in the city, existing already in the 10th century and having been built and in several successive stages in the Romanesque style
. The churches has a number of notable works of art, in particular, fine sculpture.
The current structure dates from Romanesque period of the 12th century, the nave, side walls and greater part of the bell tower remaining from this date. The upper stage of the bell tower was constructed in 1356.
During the 14th century, the Cathedral acquired an important relic
, the Sacra Cintola or Belt of the Holy Virgin. This brought about the enlarging of the edifice by the addition of a transept
which is attributed to Giovanni Pisano
, but probably the work of a pupil of Nicola Pisano
. The Cintola Chapel was also built at this time to house the relic.
In the early 15th century, a new façade was added in the International Gothic
, in front of the old one. In the space between the two was created a narthex or corridor leading to the external pulpit
, built by Michelozzo
and decorated by Donatello
between 1428 and 1438.
The facade
is architecturally simple, the shape of the building informing the new structure so that its low-pitched central roof and sloping side aisles mark the roofline, which is enlivened with an open parapet
of simple Gothic tracery, uniting the building with the sky. The facade is divided into three sections by shallow buttress
es or pilaster
s. That part of the facade above the springing of the door arch is faced with marble in bold contrasting stripes, while the lower part is pale-coloured but much stained in some areas, possible from the absorption of pollutants.
The facade has a single central portal with a lintelled doorway surmounted by a Gothic
arch. In the lunette
over the door is a glaze
d terracotta sculpture by Andrea della Robbia
depicting the Madonna with Saints Stephen and John.
Below the central gable, a decorative clock is set into the facade, in place of a central window. It is surrounded by segments of the contrasting marble and forms part of the harmonious design.
The fresco
es of the transept
chapel
date from the same century as the facade, but are of the Renaissance painting style.
The left aisle houses a notable Renaissance
pulpit in white marble (1469-1473). The base is decorated with sphynxes. The parapet has reliefs by Antonio Rossellino
, portraying the Assumption and the Histories of St. Stephen, and by Mino da Fiesole
portraying the Histories of St. John the Baptist. It is faced, in the opposite aisle, by a great bronze candelabra by Maso di Bartolomeo (1440), having an elongated vase-shape from which seven branches protrude. Maso also executed the balcony of the inner west wall, which is also decorated with a fresco of the Assumption by David and Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio.
has three works by the American artist, Robert Morris (2000-2001).
In the transept right is the Renaissance tabernacle
by the Da Maiano
brothers: the Madonna with Child terracotta (1480) is by the more famous Benedetto
.
The chapels can be accessed through a 17th century balustrade in polychrome marble, for which part of the Renaissance choir were re-used (including crests and cherubims).
Next is the Assumption Chapel, which was frescoed in 1435-1436 by the so-called Master of Prato and by a young Paolo Uccello
, who painted the Histories of the Virgin and St. Stephen, completed by Andrea di Giusto in the lower section. They show a bizarre fantasy of enchanted figures caught in a wide range of brilliant colors, and surrounded by Brunelleschi
-like architectures.
In the main chapel, or chancel
, Filippo Lippi
and Fra Diamante
painted the Histories of St. Stephen and St. John. In the lower left wall are depicted the Obsequies of St. Stephen, in which, set in a Palaeo-Christian basilica, Lippi portrayed Pope Pius II
as an imposing figure in scarlet costume. On the right is the artist's self-portrait. On the opposite wall is Herod's Banquet, showing a large hall in which Salome is performing her ballet, and the handing over of St. John's head to Herodias
. The altar is by Ferdinando Tacca (1653).
The Manassei Chapel was frescoed by a pupil of Agnolo Gaddi
in the early 15th century with Histories of St. Margaret and St. James. The last chapel on the left houses a funerary monument attributed to Benedetto da Maiano and a stained glass window from the early 16th century.
The chapel has frescoes of Histories of the Virgin and the Cintola by Agnolo Gaddi
(1392-1395), which are notable for their luminous colors. Also noteworthy is the panorama of Prato in the Michael's Return scene.
The 18th century altar, which encloses the Cintola, is crowned by a marble Madonna with Child (c. 1301), considered one of Giovanni Pisano's masterpieces.
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Central Italy
Central Italy
Central Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics , a first level NUTS region and a European Parliament constituency...
and seat of the bishop. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. It is one of the most ancient churches in the city, existing already in the 10th century and having been built and in several successive stages in the Romanesque style
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
. The churches has a number of notable works of art, in particular, fine sculpture.
History
The Cathedral is documented as early as the 10th century as the Pieve of Santo Stefano, located in the Borgo al Cornio, the first settlement in Prato.The current structure dates from Romanesque period of the 12th century, the nave, side walls and greater part of the bell tower remaining from this date. The upper stage of the bell tower was constructed in 1356.
During the 14th century, the Cathedral acquired an important relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
, the Sacra Cintola or Belt of the Holy Virgin. This brought about the enlarging of the edifice by the addition of a transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
which is attributed to Giovanni Pisano
Giovanni Pisano
Giovanni Pisano was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect. Son of the famous sculptor Nicola Pisano, he received his training in the workshop of his father....
, but probably the work of a pupil of Nicola Pisano
Nicola Pisano
Nicola Pisano was an Italian sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered to be the founder of modern sculpture.- Early life :His birth date or origins are uncertain...
. The Cintola Chapel was also built at this time to house the relic.
In the early 15th century, a new façade was added in the International Gothic
International Gothic
International Gothic is a phase of Gothic art which developed in Burgundy, Bohemia, France and northern Italy in the late 14th century and early 15th century...
, in front of the old one. In the space between the two was created a narthex or corridor leading to the external pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, built by Michelozzo
Michelozzo
thumb|250px|[[Palazzo Medici]] in Florence.Michelozzo di Bartolomeo Michelozzi was an Italian architect and sculptor.-Biography:...
and decorated by Donatello
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi , also known as Donatello, was an early Renaissance Italian artist and sculptor from Florence...
between 1428 and 1438.
The facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
is architecturally simple, the shape of the building informing the new structure so that its low-pitched central roof and sloping side aisles mark the roofline, which is enlivened with an open parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
of simple Gothic tracery, uniting the building with the sky. The facade is divided into three sections by shallow buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es or pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. That part of the facade above the springing of the door arch is faced with marble in bold contrasting stripes, while the lower part is pale-coloured but much stained in some areas, possible from the absorption of pollutants.
The facade has a single central portal with a lintelled doorway surmounted by a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
arch. In the lunette
Lunette
In architecture, a lunette is a half-moon shaped space, either filled with recessed masonry or void. A lunette is formed when a horizontal cornice transects a round-headed arch at the level of the imposts, where the arch springs. If a door is set within a round-headed arch, the space within the...
over the door is a glaze
Ceramic glaze
Glaze is a layer or coating of a vitreous substance which has been fired to fuse to a ceramic object to color, decorate, strengthen or waterproof it.-Use:...
d terracotta sculpture by Andrea della Robbia
Andrea della Robbia
Andrea della Robbia was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics. He was the son of Marco della Robbia. Andrea della Robbia's uncle, Luca della Robbia, popularized the use of glazed terra-cotta for sculpture...
depicting the Madonna with Saints Stephen and John.
Below the central gable, a decorative clock is set into the facade, in place of a central window. It is surrounded by segments of the contrasting marble and forms part of the harmonious design.
The fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es of the transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
date from the same century as the facade, but are of the Renaissance painting style.
Interior
Internally, the church has a nave and aisles, all in Romanesque style and dating from the early 13th century. They are separated by elegant columns of green serpentine, the capitals being attributed to Guidetto. The vaults, designed by Ferdinando Tacca, were added in the 17th century.The left aisle houses a notable Renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
pulpit in white marble (1469-1473). The base is decorated with sphynxes. The parapet has reliefs by Antonio Rossellino
Antonio Rossellino
Antonio Gamberelli , nicknamed Antonio Rossellino for the colour of his hair, was an Italian sculptor. His older brother, from whom he received his formal training, was the painter Bernardo Rossellino....
, portraying the Assumption and the Histories of St. Stephen, and by Mino da Fiesole
Mino da Fiesole
Mino da Fiesole , also known as Mino di Giovanni, was an Italian sculptor from Poppi, Tuscany. He is noted for his portrait busts.-Career:...
portraying the Histories of St. John the Baptist. It is faced, in the opposite aisle, by a great bronze candelabra by Maso di Bartolomeo (1440), having an elongated vase-shape from which seven branches protrude. Maso also executed the balcony of the inner west wall, which is also decorated with a fresco of the Assumption by David and Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio.
Transept
A small staircase leads from the old church to the 14th century transept, which has five high cross vaults, each ending in an apse divided by pilasters. The presbyteryPresbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
has three works by the American artist, Robert Morris (2000-2001).
In the transept right is the Renaissance tabernacle
Aedicula
In religion in ancient Rome, an aedicula is a small shrine. The word aedicula is the diminutive of the Latin aedes, a temple building or house....
by the Da Maiano
Benedetto da Maiano
Benedetto da Maiano was an Italian sculptor of the early Renaissance.Born in the village of Maiano , he started his career as companion of his brother, the architect Giuliano da Maiano. When he reached the age of thirty he started training under the sculptor Antonio Rossellino...
brothers: the Madonna with Child terracotta (1480) is by the more famous Benedetto
Benedetto da Maiano
Benedetto da Maiano was an Italian sculptor of the early Renaissance.Born in the village of Maiano , he started his career as companion of his brother, the architect Giuliano da Maiano. When he reached the age of thirty he started training under the sculptor Antonio Rossellino...
.
The chapels can be accessed through a 17th century balustrade in polychrome marble, for which part of the Renaissance choir were re-used (including crests and cherubims).
Transept chapels
On the transept right, the Vinaccesi Chapel is home to a notable Deposition of Christ from the 13th century. It also has 19th century frescoes by the Pratese painter Alessandro Franchi.Next is the Assumption Chapel, which was frescoed in 1435-1436 by the so-called Master of Prato and by a young Paolo Uccello
Paolo Uccello
Paolo Uccello , born Paolo di Dono, was an Italian painter and a mathematician who was notable for his pioneering work on visual perspective in art. Giorgio Vasari in his book Lives of the Artists wrote that Uccello was obsessed by his interest in perspective and would stay up all night in his...
, who painted the Histories of the Virgin and St. Stephen, completed by Andrea di Giusto in the lower section. They show a bizarre fantasy of enchanted figures caught in a wide range of brilliant colors, and surrounded by Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps most famous for inventing linear perspective and designing the dome of the Florence Cathedral, but his accomplishments also included bronze artwork, architecture , mathematics,...
-like architectures.
In the main chapel, or chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, Filippo Lippi
Filippo Lippi
Fra' Filippo Lippi , also called Lippo Lippi, was an Italian painter of the Italian Quattrocento .-Biography and works:...
and Fra Diamante
Fra Diamante
Fra Diamante was an Italian Renaissance painter.-Biography:Born at Prato, he was a Carmelite friar, a member of the Florentine community of that order, and was the friend and assistant of Filippo Lippi...
painted the Histories of St. Stephen and St. John. In the lower left wall are depicted the Obsequies of St. Stephen, in which, set in a Palaeo-Christian basilica, Lippi portrayed Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
as an imposing figure in scarlet costume. On the right is the artist's self-portrait. On the opposite wall is Herod's Banquet, showing a large hall in which Salome is performing her ballet, and the handing over of St. John's head to Herodias
Herodias
Herodias was a Jewish princess of the Herodian Dynasty. Asteroid 546 Herodias is named after her.-Family relationships:*Daughter of Aristobulus IV...
. The altar is by Ferdinando Tacca (1653).
The Manassei Chapel was frescoed by a pupil of Agnolo Gaddi
Agnolo Gaddi
Agnolo Gaddi was an Italian painter. He was the son and pupil of the painter Taddeo Gaddi.Taddeo Gaddi was himself the major pupil of the Florentine master Giotto...
in the early 15th century with Histories of St. Margaret and St. James. The last chapel on the left houses a funerary monument attributed to Benedetto da Maiano and a stained glass window from the early 16th century.
Cintola Chapel
The Cintola Chapel (Italian: Cappella del Sacro Cingolo) is located under the last arch of the left aisles, next to the counter-façade. It houses the Sacra Cintola, the belt which, according to the tradition, was given to St. Thomas by the Virgin Mary during the Assumption. It was brought to Prato in the 13th century.The chapel has frescoes of Histories of the Virgin and the Cintola by Agnolo Gaddi
Agnolo Gaddi
Agnolo Gaddi was an Italian painter. He was the son and pupil of the painter Taddeo Gaddi.Taddeo Gaddi was himself the major pupil of the Florentine master Giotto...
(1392-1395), which are notable for their luminous colors. Also noteworthy is the panorama of Prato in the Michael's Return scene.
The 18th century altar, which encloses the Cintola, is crowned by a marble Madonna with Child (c. 1301), considered one of Giovanni Pisano's masterpieces.