Church of Santa Barbara, Madrid
Encyclopedia
The Santa Barbara, also known as Church of the Monastery of the Salesas Reales is a Catholic church, built in Neoclassic
style, in central Madrid
, Spain. It is one of a number of Spanish churches dedicated to St Barbara.
, housing nuns belonging to the order of St. Francis de Sales. (The order is also known as the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
).
The convent was founded in 1748 by the Queen Bárbara de Braganza, wife of Ferdinand VI of Spain
. The church, which stood next to the convent, was designed by Francisco Carlier in collaboration with Francisco Moradillo. In 1870, the monastery was closed, and the government used the monastery as the Palace of Justice, now as the Supreme Court. In 1891, the church was open to parish worship.
, founders of the Order, sculpted by Alfonso Giraldo Vergaz. In the interior, are the burial tombs of Ferdinand VI and his wife. These were commissioned by Charles III of Spain
and completed by the architect Francisco Sabatini and the sculptor Francisco Gutiérrez
. In addition, it holds the tomb of the general Leopoldo O´Donnell, first duke of Tetuán, work of Jeronimo Suñol
.
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, in central Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain. It is one of a number of Spanish churches dedicated to St Barbara.
History
This church was built in 1757 for the Convent of the Salesas RealesConvent of the Salesas Reales
The Convent of the Salesas Reales is an 18th-century architectural complex in central Madrid, Spain. Formerly a convent, specifically the convent of the Visitación de Nuestra Señora , it was constructed and occupied by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, which had been founded by St. Francis...
, housing nuns belonging to the order of St. Francis de Sales. (The order is also known as the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary or the Visitation Order is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. Members of the order are also known as Filles de Sainte-Marie, Visitandines, Salesian Sisters and, more commonly, Visitationists.- History of the order :The Order was founded in 1610 by...
).
The convent was founded in 1748 by the Queen Bárbara de Braganza, wife of Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI of Spain
Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
. The church, which stood next to the convent, was designed by Francisco Carlier in collaboration with Francisco Moradillo. In 1870, the monastery was closed, and the government used the monastery as the Palace of Justice, now as the Supreme Court. In 1891, the church was open to parish worship.
Overview
The exterior is noted for the statues of St. Francis de Sales and St Jeanne de ChantalJane Frances de Chantal
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal is a Roman Catholic Saint, who founded a religious order after the death of her husband.-Life:...
, founders of the Order, sculpted by Alfonso Giraldo Vergaz. In the interior, are the burial tombs of Ferdinand VI and his wife. These were commissioned by Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
and completed by the architect Francisco Sabatini and the sculptor Francisco Gutiérrez
Francisco Gutiérrez
Francisco Gutiérrez may refer to:* Francisco Gutierrez , "Franky G", frontman for the German Europop group Captain Jack* Francisco Gutiérrez, candidate in the Chilean parliamentary election, 2009...
. In addition, it holds the tomb of the general Leopoldo O´Donnell, first duke of Tetuán, work of Jeronimo Suñol
Jeronimo Suñol
Jeronimo Suñol y Pujol was a Spanish sculptor whose early training was in the atelier of Agapit and Venanci Vallmitjana, perfecting his art at Rome where he maintained a studio for many years...
.