(Façade, Santa Maria Novella)On the tour this week, we got to look at all of the sections of Santa Maria Novella; both cloister and church. The church was built on a plot of land given to the Dominicans, which was called Santa Maria inter Vineas (or St. Mary in the Vineyards). The church was finished around 1350AD and had been designed by two Dominican friars, Fra Sisto and Fra Ristoro. Since the Duomo was not yet started at this time, Santa Maria Novella surpassed Santa Croce as the largest church in Florence. However, the church continued in its construction through the 14th century in the Gothic style and became finalized a century later as an Early Renaissance style element was added. 
(Cloister Ceiling, Santa Maria Novella)
The cloister is decorated with a number of important frescoes, such as those by Andrea di Bonaiuto in the Spanish Chapel which depict the Dominican Order as a means to salvation and protectors of the 'Christian flock' (Dominicans shown as dogs fighting 'heretic' wolves). The refrectory contains frescoes as well, though by Alessando Allori and instead, are Mannerist in style (characterized by harmonious ideals and somewhat of a disregard for naturalism).
Giotto's Crucifixion can be found inside of the Church of Santa Maria Novella, which was completed in the early 14th century. As a student of Cimabue, Giotto is important for two reasons. Firstly, he championed the development of a crucified Christ with one foot over the other (thus calling for only one nail instead of two) and secondly, he turned away from the divine Christ as shown in Byzantine style and instead presents a more human (realistic) Christ.
The Strozzi Chapel of SMN contains the Stozzi Altarpiece (1357) by Andrea Orcagna as well as the frescoes the Last Judgement, Paradise and Hell (Inferno) by Nardo di Cione (Andrea's brother). The former is a Gothic painting depicting Christ presenting the keys to heaven to St. Peter and a book to St. Thomas Aquinas. The latter shows a Hell based on Dante's Divine Comedy.
Bibliography
[bluffton.edu] http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/marian/marian.html
"Commissioned by the Rucellai family to redesign the facade of the existing church, Alberti devised a rational and unified front. Alberti's design has various geometrical relationships; for example, the height to the top of the pediment is equal to the width and the upper temple with its pediment is one-fourth the size of the main square." (bluffton.edu)
(Cloister Ceiling, Santa Maria Novella)Giotto's Crucifixion can be found inside of the Church of Santa Maria Novella, which was completed in the early 14th century. As a student of Cimabue, Giotto is important for two reasons. Firstly, he championed the development of a crucified Christ with one foot over the other (thus calling for only one nail instead of two) and secondly, he turned away from the divine Christ as shown in Byzantine style and instead presents a more human (realistic) Christ.
The Strozzi Chapel of SMN contains the Stozzi Altarpiece (1357) by Andrea Orcagna as well as the frescoes the Last Judgement, Paradise and Hell (Inferno) by Nardo di Cione (Andrea's brother). The former is a Gothic painting depicting Christ presenting the keys to heaven to St. Peter and a book to St. Thomas Aquinas. The latter shows a Hell based on Dante's Divine Comedy.
Bibliography
[bluffton.edu] http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/marian/marian.html
No comments:
Post a Comment