Bologna Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Bologna Cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter
, is the cathedral
of Bologna
in Italy
, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral
of the Archbishop of Bologna. Most of the present building dates from the 17th century, with a few parts from the late 16th century.
campanile
with a circular base (in the architectural tradition of Ravenna
). This church was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1141. It was reconstructed, and consecrated by Pope Lucius III
in 1184.
In 1396 a high portico
(protiro) was added to the west front, which was rebuilt in 1467. From about 1477 the Ferrarese
painters Francesco del Cossa
and Ercole de' Roberti
worked in the Garganelli Chapel on the creation of a cycle of fresco
es which later had a significant influence on Niccolò dell'Arca and Michelangelo
. The frescoes were lost in subsequent reconstruction except for a very few fragments.
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII
elevated the Bishop of Bologna to Archbishop, and accordingly the cathedral was elevated to the rank of "metropolitan church" (a bishop's seat with jurisdiction over other bishops and dioceses in its territory).
By order of Cardinal Gabriele Paleotti
a radical remodelling of the interior of the building began in 1575, of which the crypt
and the Greater Chapel (Capella Maggiore) survive. The alterations were so extensive however as to cause the vaults to collapse in 1599, and the decision was then made to rebuild the main part of the cathedral from scratch. Work on the new building started in 1605. A new façade was added between 1743 and 1747, to designs by the architect Alfonso Torreggiani
, on the instructions of Pope Benedict XIV
.
, giving an impression of majesty and grandeur. Among the works of art are an Annunciation by Ludovico Carracci
(a fresco in the central lunette of the presbytery), a Romanesque
Crucifixion
in cedarwood, and a sculptured group in terracotta depicting the Compianto su Cristo morto ("Lament over the Dead Christ"), by Alfonso Lombardi
, of the early 16th century. In the apse
are early 20th century paintings by Cesare Mauro Trebbi
(1847–1931) including Saint Anne
in Glory.
with the circular base has never been rebuilt, although from the 13th century onwards it has often been suggested that it should be, and the ancient internal structure is still visible.
The bell tower accommodates the bell known as "La Nonna", which at a weight of 3300 kilograms is the largest bell that can be rung by the Bolognese method of bell-ringing
.
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, is the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Archbishop of Bologna. Most of the present building dates from the 17th century, with a few parts from the late 16th century.
History
There was already a cathedral on the site (on the present Via Indipendenza) in 1028, accompanied by a pre-RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
with a circular base (in the architectural tradition of Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
). This church was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1141. It was reconstructed, and consecrated by Pope Lucius III
Pope Lucius III
Pope Lucius III , born Ubaldo, was pope from 1 September 1181 to his death.A native of the independent republic of Lucca, he was born ca. 1100 as Ubaldo, son of Orlando. He is commonly referred to as a member of the aristocratic family of Allucingoli, but this is not proven...
in 1184.
In 1396 a high portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
(protiro) was added to the west front, which was rebuilt in 1467. From about 1477 the Ferrarese
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
painters Francesco del Cossa
Francesco del Cossa
Francesco del Cossa was an Italian early-Renaissance painter of the School of Ferrara.-Biography:...
and Ercole de' Roberti
Ercole de' Roberti
thumb|240px|Portrait of [[Giovanni II Bentivoglio]] . National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.Ercole de' Roberti , also known as Ercole Ferrarese or Ercole da Ferrara, was an Italian artist of the Early Renaissance and the School of Ferrara...
worked in the Garganelli Chapel on the creation of a cycle of fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es which later had a significant influence on Niccolò dell'Arca and Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
. The frescoes were lost in subsequent reconstruction except for a very few fragments.
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
elevated the Bishop of Bologna to Archbishop, and accordingly the cathedral was elevated to the rank of "metropolitan church" (a bishop's seat with jurisdiction over other bishops and dioceses in its territory).
By order of Cardinal Gabriele Paleotti
Gabriele Paleotti
Gabriele Paleotti was an Italian Cardinal and Archbishop of Bologna.-Life:Paleotti was born at Bologna. Having acquired, in 1546, the title of Doctor of Civil and Canon Law, he was appointed to teach civil law. In 1549 he became a canon of the cathedral, but he did not become a priest until later...
a radical remodelling of the interior of the building began in 1575, of which the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
and the Greater Chapel (Capella Maggiore) survive. The alterations were so extensive however as to cause the vaults to collapse in 1599, and the decision was then made to rebuild the main part of the cathedral from scratch. Work on the new building started in 1605. A new façade was added between 1743 and 1747, to designs by the architect Alfonso Torreggiani
Alfonso Torreggiani
Alfonso Torreggiani was an Italian architect, principally associated with Bologna.-Life:Torregiano was born in Budrio. An apprentice of G. A...
, on the instructions of Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
.
Description
The present interior is emphatically BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
, giving an impression of majesty and grandeur. Among the works of art are an Annunciation by Ludovico Carracci
Ludovico Carracci
Ludovico Carracci was an Italian, early-Baroque painter, etcher, and printmaker born in Bologna....
(a fresco in the central lunette of the presbytery), a Romanesque
Romanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
in cedarwood, and a sculptured group in terracotta depicting the Compianto su Cristo morto ("Lament over the Dead Christ"), by Alfonso Lombardi
Alfonso Lombardi
Alfonso Lombardi , also known as Lombardi da Lucca, Alfonso da Ferrara and as Alfonso Lombardo, was an Italian sculptor and medalist who was born in Ferrara, Italy in 1497, and died in Bologna in 1537. He was very active in Bologna where he created a number of works that are still present in the...
, of the early 16th century. In the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
are early 20th century paintings by Cesare Mauro Trebbi
Cesare Mauro Trebbi
Cesare Mauro Trebbi , also known as Mauro Cesare Trebbi, was an Italian painter and lithographer best known for his historico-religious set pieces and especially valued for his figure painting. He worked principally on large-scale public compositions for religious buildings. His frescoes are to be...
(1847–1931) including Saint Anne
Saint Anne
Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...
in Glory.
Campanile
The early campanileCampanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
with the circular base has never been rebuilt, although from the 13th century onwards it has often been suggested that it should be, and the ancient internal structure is still visible.
The bell tower accommodates the bell known as "La Nonna", which at a weight of 3300 kilograms is the largest bell that can be rung by the Bolognese method of bell-ringing
Bolognese bell ringing art
The Bolognese bell ringing system took shape during the Middle Ages, and was perfected in the 19th century.-History:During the 16th century there was a competitive spirit between Rome and Bologna. At that time the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna was still under construction, and was intended to...
.