San Paolo Maggiore, Bologna
San Paolo Maggiore, also known as San Paolo Decollato, is a
History
The church was commissioned between 1606 and 1611 by the Barnabites from the architect Ambrogio Magenta or Mazenta. Patronage for this church was mainly derived from the Prince Virgilio Spada, brother of Cardinal Bernardino Spada. The Barnabites, also known as the Clerics Regular of St Paul, named this church as Maggiore to distinguish it from two other San Paolo's in Bologna. Between 1634 and 1636 the facade was built to designs by Ercole Fichi. The facade, in brick and stone, has statues of St Peter and Paul, respectively by Domenico Maria Mirandola and G. Cruventi.[1]
During the Napoleonic invasion, the Barnabites were suppressed, and the church was made a parish church in 1819. Closed again later, it was reconsecrated in 1878. In 1959 it was restored to the Barnabites, and two years later raised to the designation of
Inside the building, the vaults were frescoed with scenes of the St Paul in the Areopagus of Athens by Antonio and Giuseppe Rolli. Antonio died after a fall from a scaffold, and the work was completed by his brother. The cupola, apse, sacristy and two chapels in the transept were frescored with quadratura by Pietro Farina, and figures by Giuseppe Antonio Caccioli[3]
The main altar (1643-1650) features a dramatic marble sculptural group Beheading of St Paul (sculpted in Rome in 1634, but not in place till 1644) by Alessandro Algardi. Algardi also completed the bronze plaques on the altar. His works were commissioned by the Prince Spada.[4] The architectural setting of the altar, described by some as a Baldacchino, has Corinthian columns and a protruding portico is based on a design attributed to the architect Borromini.[5][6]
The church altars have masterpieces by
In the third chapel has a Nativity and Adoration of the Magi by
Gallery
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Beheading of St Paul by Algardi -
Paradise by Carracci -
Adoration of the Shepherds by Cavedoni
References
- ^ Guida storico-statistica monumentale dell'Italia (1857) page 287.
- ^ Bologna sacra: tutte le chiese in due millenni di storia, by Marcello Fini, page 177.
- ^ Touring Club of Italy, entry on church.
- ^ Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture, by Lilian H. Zirpolo, The Scarecrow Press, 2010, page 359.
- ^ European Art of the Seventeenth Century, by Rosa Giorgi, page 185.
- ^ Touring club Italiano entry.
- ^ Bologna Welcome entry on church.
- ^ Guida storico-statistica monumentale dell'Italia (1857) page 287.
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