Vigevano Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Vigevano Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral
dedicated to Saint Ambrose and located in the Piazza Ducale of Vigevano
, Italy
. It is the seat of the Bishop of Vigevano. The present building dates from the 16th century, with a west front of the 1670s.
The current structure was commissioned by Duke Francesco II Sforza
in c. 1530 and is dedicated to Saint Ambrose. Construction on the cathedral, designed by Antonio da Lonate (c. 1456 c.–c. 1541), began in 1532 but was not completed until 1612. The edifice of the cathedral was completed in 1606 and it was consecrated on 24 April 1612.
The Spanish Cardinal Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz
was hired to redesign the west front of Vigevano Cathedral, work which began in 1673 and was completed c. 1680. The only architectural work known to be done by Lobkowitz, his design displays virtuosity, eclectivity, and an interesting geometrical relationship to the square which is cleverly adjusted to bring the ancient cathedral into a line perpendicular to and centered on the axis of the piazza.
, Bernardino Ferrari
and others, as well as a tempera
polyptych
of the school of Leonardo da Vinci
.
tapestries
, seven of which were made by tapestry makers in Brussels in 1520 in the pre-Renaissance style and five of which were woven in Oudenarde at the beginning of the 17th century. Also on exhibit are an ornate crosier
in ivory, a gold-plated silver reliquary
of the Lombardy school of goldsmiths from c. 1530, numerous precious corals, missal
s, codice
s and manuscripts dating from the late 15th century, and many chalice
s, goblets, monstrance
s and reliquaries in different styles and from different eras. Also of interest is a 16th century wall-hanging embroidered in gold which was used in Monza
in 1805 for the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte.
was built by Gian Giacomo Antegnati in 1554. Composer Antonio Cagnoni
notably served as the cathedral's maestro di cappella from 1852-1879.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
dedicated to Saint Ambrose and located in the Piazza Ducale of Vigevano
Vigevano
Vigevano is a town and comune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, northern Italy, which possesses many artistic treasures and runs a huge industrial business. It is at the center of a district called Lomellina, a great rice-growing agricultural centre...
, 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...
. It is the seat of the Bishop of Vigevano. The present building dates from the 16th century, with a west front of the 1670s.
History
The initial structure on the site was built before the year 1000 and is referred to in documents of as early as 963 and 967.The current structure was commissioned by Duke Francesco II Sforza
Francesco II Sforza
Francesco II Sforza , also known as Francesco Maria Sforza, was the last Duke of Milan from 1521 until his death.He was the son of Ludovico Sforza and Beatrice d'Este...
in c. 1530 and is dedicated to Saint Ambrose. Construction on the cathedral, designed by Antonio da Lonate (c. 1456 c.–c. 1541), began in 1532 but was not completed until 1612. The edifice of the cathedral was completed in 1606 and it was consecrated on 24 April 1612.
The Spanish Cardinal Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz
Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz
Juan Caramuel y Lobkowitz was a Spanish Catholic scholastic philosopher, ecclesiastic, mathematician and writer.-Life:...
was hired to redesign the west front of Vigevano Cathedral, work which began in 1673 and was completed c. 1680. The only architectural work known to be done by Lobkowitz, his design displays virtuosity, eclectivity, and an interesting geometrical relationship to the square which is cleverly adjusted to bring the ancient cathedral into a line perpendicular to and centered on the axis of the piazza.
Description
The interior is designed on the Latin cross plan, with the nave containing a central aisle and two side aisles, and houses works by Macrino d'AlbaMacrino d'Alba
Macrino d'Alba was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Piedmont. Also called Giovanni Giacomo Fava. Born in Alba, he painted the Resurrection for the chapel of Sant’Ugone at the Certosa di Pavia...
, Bernardino Ferrari
Bernardino Ferrari
Bernardino Ferrari was an Italian painter of the 16th century. Born in Milan, he flourished in Vigevano, Italy from 1514 to 1524 where many of his more well known works were produced, the best of which are located in the Vigevano Cathedral...
and others, as well as a tempera
Tempera
Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder medium . Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting, and examples from the 1st centuries AD still exist...
polyptych
Polyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
of the school of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
.
Treasury
The cathedral is best known for the "treasury" donated to it by Francesco II Sforza in 1534 which encompasses more than 100 precious objects. These, along with other items, are on display in a museum inside the cathedral known as the Museo del Tesoro del Duomo Vigevano. Of note in the collection are several FlemishFlemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
tapestries
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
, seven of which were made by tapestry makers in Brussels in 1520 in the pre-Renaissance style and five of which were woven in Oudenarde at the beginning of the 17th century. Also on exhibit are an ornate crosier
Crosier
A crosier is the stylized staff of office carried by high-ranking Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran and Pentecostal prelates...
in ivory, a gold-plated silver reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
of the Lombardy school of goldsmiths from c. 1530, numerous precious corals, missal
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
s, codice
Codice
The Codice is an independent authority that was created in 2006 at the initiative of the Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment of France, in order to give answers to the democratic issue of economic literacy...
s and manuscripts dating from the late 15th century, and many chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
s, goblets, monstrance
Monstrance
A monstrance is the vessel used in the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic host, during Eucharistic adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Created in the medieval period for the public display of relics, the monstrance today is...
s and reliquaries in different styles and from different eras. Also of interest is a 16th century wall-hanging embroidered in gold which was used in Monza
Monza
Monza is a city and comune on the river Lambro, a tributary of the Po, in the Lombardy region of Italy some 15 km north-northeast of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza. It is best known for its Grand Prix motor racing circuit, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.On June...
in 1805 for the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Organ
The church's first organOrgan (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was built by Gian Giacomo Antegnati in 1554. Composer Antonio Cagnoni
Antonio Cagnoni
Antonio Cagnoni was an Italian composer. Primarily known for his operas, his work is characterized by his use of leitmotifs and moderately dissonant harmonies. In addition to writing music for the stage, he composed a modest amount of sacred music, most notably a Requiem in 1888...
notably served as the cathedral's maestro di cappella from 1852-1879.