Bologna Chiesa di San Martino
Leave a Reply
Chiesa di San Martino Photos
About Chiesa di San Martino
Founded in 1217 this church was rebuilt in the first half of the 14th century later becoming the symbol of the Carmelite Order in Bologna. Brick vaults were added in 1457 whereas, the façade of the building which displays iconic figures of various saints on either side was also renovated but only much later in 1879.
Just in front of the church piazza is a statue of the Madonna from 1705 by Andrea Ferreri.
From the side is this Romanesque-gothic bell tower which was renovated in 1728. Just below it and above the side entrance portal is this ancient bas-relief of St Martin by F.Manzini dating to 1531. And it’s quite obvious that hiding under the years of dust and pollution are brilliant colours waiting to be exposed.
At present the main body around the nave here which is elegant and spacious is being restored. Along the right hand nave is this first chapel with a 1532 painting by Girolamo da Carpi called the Adoration of the Wise Men. This next one shows a mid 17th century painting of Carmelite Saints by Cesari Gennari.
Next along is an unusual 15th century cycle of frescoes by Dalmasio and completed on a stone column. It shows saints Antonio, Onofrio and Elia.
One of the main attractions is Vitale da Bologna’s barely saved work of art showing the Crucifixion, completed in the 1400s. It’s now protected from further destruction behind a glass case.
At the top end of the aisle is this chapel illustriously decorated in polychrome marble. Pietro di Matteo dei Conti first sought permission from the Carmelite Order to have it renovated and when it was given he brought in Alfonso Torreggiani in 1756 to carry-out the work. Even the gates into it are said to have cost 700 Roman Scudi. The sculptures of angels are in white marble. The chapel is dedicated to the Madonna Del Carmine. Distinguished artists who contributed to the overall project included Vittorio Bigari, Guglielmo Borgognone, Alesandro Tiarini and Giacono Sementi.
The main altar shown here displays a painting by Girolamo da Sermoneta dating to 1548 of the Madonna on the throne with saints. Of exceptional quality, for the ornamental decoration and sonority, is this sixteenth century organ on the right side of the presbytery.
To the left of the main altar is a small chapel showing several scenes of the Crucifixion with various saints. The painting is by an unknown artist although it’s certainly from the Bolognese school of art around the 15th century.
Going down the left hand aisle is this chapel decorated with the Assumption of Mary. Lorenzo Costa completed it in 1506.
This statue of Santa Maria Maddalena De Pazzi was named after the ancient and noble family of Pazzi who originally came from Florence. The statue was actually transferred here from the Carmelite monastery of Santa Maria in Florence. There’s a beautiful inscription at the bottom of it which reads: ‘To Serena with Love. Your mother’.
In this last chapel is a collection of valuable works both artistically and historically. The first above the altar here is the Madonna and Saints by Francesco Francia from the late 1400s, while under the altar table is the Deposizione by Amico Aspertini from early 1500s.
This painting of St Elia the Prophet is by A Guardassoni followed with the Nativita by Paolo Uccello mid 1400s, and lastly is this terracotta statue of the Madonna del Carmine by Jacopo Della Quercia from the 1400s.
In a room next to the church is the sacristy: another incredibly decorated space with many masterpieces hanging on the walls and in the chapel dedicated to St Teresa. Along the right hand side of the sacristy is where that small piece of the Nativita by Paolo Uccello in the aforementioned chapel used to be. In fact, it used to stretch along the whole side but was mostly destroyed over the years due to building works.
This beautiful shrine to St Teresa illustrates her life in frescoes on the ceiling. Artists who contributed here include: Tibaldi, Reni, Falcetti, Calvart, Carracci plus other local unknown artists who would have worked on general decorative elements.
Also from this room is a side door leading to the cloister, an area rarely visited by the public. The quadrangle set of porticoes and rustic walls really give a sense of bygone days when the convent would have been much busier. Now of course hardly a soul passes by.
Apart from the many stone tablets mounted on the walls dedicated to various people this work of art here is one of the more interesting aspects. It shows a typical classroom scene but more importantly it represents the educational element which would have been an integral part of the overall religious experience of the Carmelite Order.