San Filippo Neri, Turin
Church of San Filippo Neri | ||
---|---|---|
Chiesa di San Filippo Neri | ||
Style Baroque and neoclassical | | |
Groundbreaking | 1675 | |
Completed | 1730 | |
Administration | ||
Archdiocese | Turin |
San Filippo Neri is a late-
History
The church was commissioned late in life by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, and completed after his death in 1675 with the patronage of his widow Maria Giovanna Battista of Savoy-Nemours. The original design was by Antonio Bettini, however, the roof of this original church collapsed in 1706 during the fierce Siege of Turin by French forces.
The church was rebuilt (1715-1730) according to designs by
The imposing
The oratory, located to the right of the facade, is mainly used for concerts and theatrical performances. On the outer (street-side) pilaster of the oratory facade, nearly three-quarters towards the top, is a cannonball embedded in the wall during the French siege of Turin in 1799. The oratory was designed by Antonio Bettini, although likely inspired by a prior design by Jurvarra. To the left of the oratory is the baptistry which houses a marble medallion of the Baptism of Christ. The oratory is rich in paintings. The main altar is a St Phillip with an Immaculate Conception by Sebastiano Conca. On the walls are four canvases depicting episodes in the Life of Mary, completed by Conca, his brother, and their studio, including an Annunciation, Visitation, Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, and an Assumption of the Virgin. Four smaller paintings depicting the Birth of the Virgin, the Presentation of Mary at the Temple, the Marriage of the Virgin, and Consolation of Mary, were painted by Mattia Franceschini. The ceiling fresco, depicting the Coronation of Mary, is attributed to Gaetano Perego.[4]
For special feasts, such as Christmas, Pentecost, and the anniversary of the consecration of the church (in November), an altar plate (paliotto) is displayed, made of mother of pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell, and hard-wood. It was donated by the artist, Pietro Piffetti (1700-1777), to celebrate the first century of the congregation.[5]
Between Christmas and Epiphany, the entrance to the church is decorated with a presepe consisting of 30 life-sized mannequins, dressed in period costume, sculpted by Anton Maria Maragliano (1664-1739).[6]
References
- ^ Guida di Torino, Ermanno Loescher, 1874 Turin, page 26.
- ^ San Filippo Neri, Turin Archived 2015-03-19 at the Wayback Machine official site.
- ^ E Loscher, page 26.
- ^ Official site Archived 2015-03-20 at the Wayback Machine, chapel and oratory of San Filippo in Turin.
- ^ Image of the Paliotto.
- ^ Official site Archived 2015-03-21 at the Wayback Machine, San Filippo in Turin.