Santa Maria Maggiore di Firenze
Encyclopedia
Santa Maria Maggiore di Firenze is a medieval church in Florence
, Italy
.
The church was originally constructed in the 11th century and underwent extensive renovations to the facade and sides in the 13th century.
in 580 A.D. is not reliable.
In 1176 it obtained the status of collegiate church
and was one of Florence's priories. The church subsequently expanded its possessions and in 1183 it was put under papal direct protection by Lucius III in 1186, which it kept in the following century. Acquired by the Cistercians, in the 13th century the church was rebuilt (with the exception of the original external walls and the vaults) in Gothic style
. Giorgio Vasari
mentions one "Master Buono" as the designer of the new edifice; he also writes that the high altar had a Coronation of the Virgin by Agnolo Gaddi
, and the Cappella Maggiore contained frescoes by Spinello Aretino
with the Stories of the Virgin and St. Antony Abbot, of which today only a fragment survives.
During the 15th century the church's finances declined: in 1514 Giulio de' Medici
describes it as decaying , and in the following year the pope gave it to the Florence Cathedral's capitol. In 1521 it went to the Carmelites
from Mantua
. In the early 17th century the interior was restored by Gherardo Silvani
, perhaps following a project by Bernardo Buontalenti
.
. The bell tower, although reduced in height, survives from the Romanesque building. It has a Roman head embedded in its walls, popularly known as Berta
The interior is simple with a nave and two aisles, ogival arches
and groin vault
s. Artworks include frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti
(Histories of St. Zenobius in the vault), a Nativity by Matteo Rosselli
, and, at the altar of the left transept chapel, a 13th century wooden polychrome bas-relief attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo
. The same chapel houses the tomb of Brunetto Latini
, discovered in 1751, and a sarcophagus attributed to Tino di Camaino
(early 14th century).
Other artworks once housed in the church include the Carnesecchi Triptych, by Masolino da Panicale
and Masaccio
, as well as the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
and the Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints
by Botticelli.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, 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...
.
The church was originally constructed in the 11th century and underwent extensive renovations to the facade and sides in the 13th century.
History
The original church existed as early as the 8th century, and is first documented in 931. The legend assigning its foundation to Pope PelagiusPope Pelagius
Pope Pelagius has been the papal name of two popes of the Roman Catholic Church.*Pope Pelagius I *Pope Pelagius II...
in 580 A.D. is not reliable.
In 1176 it obtained the status of collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
and was one of Florence's priories. The church subsequently expanded its possessions and in 1183 it was put under papal direct protection by Lucius III in 1186, which it kept in the following century. Acquired by the Cistercians, in the 13th century the church was rebuilt (with the exception of the original external walls and the vaults) in Gothic style
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....
. Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:...
mentions one "Master Buono" as the designer of the new edifice; he also writes that the high altar had a Coronation of the Virgin 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...
, and the Cappella Maggiore contained frescoes by Spinello Aretino
Spinello Aretino
Spinello Aretino was an Italian painter, the son of a Florentine named Luca, who had taken refuge in Arezzo in 1310 when exiled with the rest of the Ghibelline party.-Biography:...
with the Stories of the Virgin and St. Antony Abbot, of which today only a fragment survives.
During the 15th century the church's finances declined: in 1514 Giulio de' Medici
Giulio de' Medici
Giulio de' Medici may refer to:*Pope Clement VII, Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, *Giulio di Alessandro de' Medici , illegitimate son of the last ruler of Florence from the "senior" branch of the Medici, Alessandro de' Medici...
describes it as decaying , and in the following year the pope gave it to the Florence Cathedral's capitol. In 1521 it went to the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
from Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
. In the early 17th century the interior was restored by Gherardo Silvani
Gherardo Silvani
Gherardo Silvani was an Italian architect and sculptor, active mainly in Florence and other sites in Tuscany during the Baroque period....
, perhaps following a project by Bernardo Buontalenti
Bernardo Buontalenti
Bernardo Buontalenti, byname of Bernardo Delle Girandole was an Italian stage designer, architect, theatrical designer, military engineer and artist.-Biography:Buontalenti was born in Florence....
.
Description
The exterior is rather undecorated, with stone walls and the portals surmounted by tympaniTympanum (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....
. The bell tower, although reduced in height, survives from the Romanesque building. It has a Roman head embedded in its walls, popularly known as Berta
The interior is simple with a nave and two aisles, ogival arches
Ogee
An ogee is a curve , shaped somewhat like an S, consisting of two arcs that curve in opposite senses, so that the ends are parallel....
and groin vault
Groin vault
A groin vault or groined vault is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The word groin refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults; cf. ribbed vault. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round...
s. Artworks include frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti
Bernardino Poccetti
Bernardino Poccetti , also known as Barbatelli, was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker in etching ....
(Histories of St. Zenobius in the vault), a Nativity by Matteo Rosselli
Matteo Rosselli
Matteo Rosselli was an Italian painter of the late Florentine Counter-Maniera and early Baroque. He is best known however for his highly-populated grand-manner historical paintings.-Biography:...
, and, at the altar of the left transept chapel, a 13th century wooden polychrome bas-relief attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo
Coppo di Marcovaldo
Coppo di Marcovaldo was an Italian painter active in Tuscany.-Biography:He was born in Florence, and is mentioned as active in Pistoia in 1265, where he frescoed the St...
. The same chapel houses the tomb of Brunetto Latini
Brunetto Latini
Brunetto Latini was an Italian philosopher, scholar and statesman.-Life:...
, discovered in 1751, and a sarcophagus attributed to Tino di Camaino
Tino di Camaino
thumb|300px|Tomb of Antonio d'Orso, in [[Santa Maria del Fiore]], [[Florence]].Tino di Camaino was an Italian sculptor....
(early 14th century).
Other artworks once housed in the church include the Carnesecchi Triptych, by Masolino da Panicale
Masolino da Panicale
Masolino da Panicale was an Italian painter. His best known works are probably his collaborations with Masaccio: Madonna with Child and St. Anne and the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel .-Biography:Masolino was born in Panicale...
and Masaccio
Masaccio
Masaccio , born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was the first great painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance. According to Vasari, Masaccio was the best painter of his generation because of his skill at recreating lifelike figures and movements as well as a convincing sense...
, as well as the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
St. Sebastian (Botticelli)
St. Sebastian is a painting by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli, executed in 1474 for the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Florence...
and the Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints
Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints (Botticelli)
The Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints is a painting of the Lamentation of Christ by the Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli, dated between 1490-1495. It is housed in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli of Milan....
by Botticelli.