LaurieAnnie's photos with the keyword: italiamedievale

The Cathedral of Palermo is an architectural complex in Palermo (Sicily, Italy). It is characterized by the presence of different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century. The cathedral is located at Corso Vittorio Emanuele, corner of Via Matteo Bonello, Palermo. The church was erected in 1185 by Walter Ophamil (or Walter of the Mill), the Anglo-norman archbishop of Palermo and King William II's minister, on the area of an earlier Byzantine basilica. By all accounts this earlier church was founded by St. Gregory and was later turned into a mosque by the Saracens after their conquest of the city in the 9th century. Ophamil is buried in a sarcophagus in the church's crypt. The medieval edifice had a basilica plan with three apses, of which only some minor architectural elements survive today. The upper orders of the corner towers were built between the 14th and the 15th centuries, while in the early Renaissance period the southern porch was added. The present neoclassical appearance dates from the work carried out over the two decades 1781 to 1801, and supervised by Ferdinando Fuga. During this period the great retable by Gagini, decorated with statues, friezes and reliefs, was destroyed and the sculptures moved to different parts of the basilica. Also by Fuga are the great dome emerging from the main body of the building, and the smaller domes covering the aisles' ceilings. The main façade is on the Western side, on the current Via Bonello, and has the appearance set in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is flanked by two towers and has a Gothic portal surmounted by a niche with a precious 15th century Madonna. Two lintelled ogival arcades, stepping over the street, connect the façade to the bell tower in the front, annexed to the Archbishops Palace. This has a squared appearance adorned in the upper part by a fine crown of smaller belfries and small arcades. The right side has outstretching turrets and a wide portico (the current entrance) in Gothic-Catalan style, with three arcades, erected around 1465 and openening to the square. The first column on the left belonged to the original basilica and the subsequent mosque, as testified by the Qur'an verse carved on it. The carved portal of this entrance was executed in the period 1426 to 1430 by Antonio Gambara, while the magnificent wooden leafs are by Francesco Miranda (1432). The mosaic portraying the Madonna is from the 13th century, while the two monuments on the walls, works of the early 18th century, represents King Charles III of Bourbon and Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia. The area of the apse, enclosed by the turrets and grandly decorated on the external walls, is part of the original 12th century building, while the more modern part of the church is the left side, which has an early 16th century portal by Antonello Gagini. The South-Western façade, looking at the Archbishop Palace, dates from the 14th to 15th centuries. The interior has a Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles divided by pilasters. In the first two chapels of the right aisle are the tomb of emperors and royal figures moved here in the 18th century from their original sites (mostly from the basilica itself). Here are the remains of Emperor Henry VI, his son Frederick II, as well as those of Peter II of Sicily. A Roman sarcophagus is the tomb of Constance of Aragon, Frederick's wife. Under the mosaic baldachins are the tombs of Roger II, the first King of Sicily, and his daughter Constance. The last two were once located in the transept of the Cathedral of Cefalù. The Sacrament chapel, at the end of the left aisles, is decorated with precious stones and lapislazuli. To the right, in the presbytery, is the chapel of Saint Rosalia, patron of Palermo, closed by a richly ornamental bronze gate, with relics and a 17th century silver urn which is object of particular devotion. The 1466 Gothic-Catalan style wooden choir and the marble remains of the Gagini's retable (removed during the 18th century alterations) are al

European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection Virgin and Child Made in Italy, Europe c. 1325 Giovanni di Balduccio, Italian (Pisa), documented 1317 - 1349 Carrara marble 8 3/4 x 14 3/16inches (22.2 x 36cm) * Gallery 210, European Art 1100-1500, second floor Inv. 469 John G. Johnson Collection, 1917 Label: This sculpture comes from the upper section of a tomb monument made for the son of the Pisan ruler Castruccio Castracani. Because the piece was some twenty feet high, the sculptor concentrated on the contours of the figures and their deeply cut drapery, and gave only minimal attention to details. Text from: www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/153004.html

European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection Angel Probably a pinnacle from Duccio's Maestà, from the Cathedral of Siena; cut and rounded at the top; companion pinnacles in collection of J. H. van Heek, 's Heerenberg; Mount Holyoke College Art Museum (P.PI.45.1965); private collection By 1311 Workshop of Duccio (Duccio di Buoninsegna), Italian (active Siena), first documented 1278, died 1318 Tempera and tooled gold on panel with vertical grain 9 1/2 x 6 11/16 inches (24.1 x 17 cm) Currently not on view Cat. 88 John G. Johnson Collection, 1917 Label: The wand in the angel's hand identifies him as an archangel. With these wands the archangels expelled Satan from heaven, thereby securing their privileged position as messengers of God. This panel comes from the pinnacle, or top section, of Duccio's large altarpiece known as the Maestà, which he made for the cathedral of Siena. Maestà is an Italian term for a depiction of the Virgin in a heavenly court. The altarpiece was disassembled in 1771. Text from: www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/102710.html

European Painting before 1900, Johnson Collection Reliquary Bust of Saint Benedict of Nursia Made in Italy, Europe Late 15th century Artist/maker unknown, Italian Painted and gilded wood 22 x 23 inches (55.9 x 58.4 cm) * Gallery 205, European Art 1100-1500, second floor Cat. 1135 John G. Johnson Collection, 1917 Label: This bust can be identified as the Abbot Saint Benedict of Nursia (died 547) by the portrait of his sister, Saint Scholastica (died 543), on the back of his cope. A reliquary, it would have contained a piece of the saint's remains. Although the sculptor is unknown, the painting is by the Florentine artist Biagio d'Antonio (documented 1476–1504). Text from: www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/101809.html