Bologna San Giuseppe ai Cappuccini
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San Giuseppe ai Cappuccini Photos
About San Giuseppe ai Cappuccini
Until the end of the 13th century this area near the south western gate of Bologna was called ValdiPietra and hence a church here was dedicated to Santa Maria Maddelena di ValdiPietra. But around 1256 a new religious order emerged and this church was soon abandoned for one in the hills above Bologna.
This cross outside the main door dates to the 18th century. In fact there will be one outside every church of the Cappuccini order.
The two large terracotta statues of St Francis and St Joseph guarding the entrance were done by Massimiliano Putti. The church was eventually consecrated on 29 September 1844 by Cardinal Carlo Oppizoni.
Monks still lived in the convent here until 1566 but they too were moved on because another order called San Giuseppe that lived within the city walls transferred to here in that same year. And thus, the new name also replaced the old church of Santa Maria Maddelena.
Along the right hand-side is this first altar with a painting of St Veronica Giuliani by Guardassoni in 1877. Other altars have equally fine paintings but are hidden behind statues. Towards the main altar is a narrow corridor leading to an ancient and spectacularly decorated chorus room while in the hall of the convent before it are some 17th century art work, one of the Immaculata by Marcantonio Franceshini.
In the middle of the room is this plain looking but enormous reading platform. In the past the monks would have stood and read from these books because it was their duty to share rather than have personal possessions.
In this room is fine art work by Samacchini, Fontana, Michieli, Maltatesta from the 17-18th centuries. There are many more throughout the convent particularly in the museum which is unfortunately closed to the public, for the time being at least.
Between 1841-44 Filippo Antolini reconstructed the whole building.
Inside there are many other life size statues of saints. These were done by father and son team Giovanni and Massimiliano Putti as well by Vincenzo Testoni, Merozzi and Bernardi. All between the mid 18-19th centuries.
The reason this room is also out of sight is due to the enclosed conditions they endured as part of their religious devotion. However this all changed towards the end of the 19th century when the order was permitted to open their doors to the public.
The reliquaries kept in these gold plated ornaments are pieces of bones and garments from a saint. The huge oil painting above of Jesus crucified on the cross at Calvary by Malatesta in 1850. Its exaggerated size is typical of the Bolognese school at that time.
This next room is the sacristy. The floor to ceiling cupboards is where the monks’ vestments for saying and participating in mass are kept here. On this altar are more reliquaries. Hanging on the walls are paintings of Monks who served here in the past.
Re-entering the church again we arrive at the transept just before the high altar. Above it is this almost noble looking painting called Sposalizio della Vergine by Malatesta dated 1844 and cost 250 ‘Roman Scudi’.
Moving down the left hand-side of the church is this chapel with a painting by Alessandro Guardassoni in 1877. It shows St Francis receiving the stigmata. Finally this last chapel near the door is dedicated to St Anthony. Hanging above the altar is an 18th century painting showing the Madonna and child with St Felice from Cantalice. It was done by Carlo Ernesto Liverati shortly before his death.
Next to the church is this door which leads into the cloister and convent. Along the way are sculptures done by resident monks. This one made from stone is still being worked on by one of the brothers called Giancarlo, which he says takes about 2 years to complete.
Placed around the centre piece are the remnants of old farming machinery which once would have been used in the fields next to this convent hundreds of years ago. Art work including sculptures and paintings of modern and old are scattered around this yard. This marble base-relief of St Peter and St Paul however is one of the oldest works of art dating to the 13th century. The artist is unknown although its thought he came from a place called Campione. It’s also believed that it had been inside the original church here of Santa Maria Maddelena di ValdiPietra.