Assisi Cathedral
The Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi is the episcopal church of the Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino . She played an important role in the history of the Franciscan order . In this church, Francis of Assisi (1182) and Clare of Assisi (1193), the founders of the Franciscans and the Poor Clares , as well as many of their companions were baptized. When Clare heard Francis preach there in 1209, she was so moved that she felt her own calling. According to legend, the miracle also occurred that Francis is said to have prayed in the church while at the same time he was seen on a fiery chariot near the church Portiuncula a few kilometers below Assisi (according to the biography of Tommaso da Celano , Vita I, chap XVIII).
history
The church is built in Romanesque style to honor the relics of Bishop Rufinus of Assisi , a 3rd century martyr , which were kept there. Construction began in 1140 based on plans by Giovanni da Gubbio . In 1228 Pope Gregory IX consecrated . the altar when he was in Assisi for the canonization of Francis. Pope Innocent IV consecrated the entire church in 1253.
facade
The façade from 1134 is one of the richest in Umbria. Umbrian architecture in general has a passionate predilection for designing flat surfaces, and Umbrian sculpture for modeling in bas-relief. One avoids structuring the surface too strongly in a three-dimensional manner. The subdivision of a large facade into many individual fields is done in a simple way using a rectangular framework that is as flat as possible.
The sub-zone of San Rufino shows a simple rectangular field division accordingly. A cornice decorated with monstrous animal figures completes the lower zone, on which a continuous gallery of columns sits. The three wheel windows culminating in the middle embody a motif that occurs very frequently in Umbrian architecture. The crowning of the facade with a pointed blind arch is not part of the original inventory. It was added later and has an early Gothic character (clear dividing line!).
The facade is made of stones from Monte Subasio .
- The middle rosette of the 12th century, made up of three circles, is surrounded, as usual, by the four evangelist symbols, but not - as is often the case - with a square frame. The rose is symbolically carried by three figures standing on monsters. At the edges of the rosette, four animals (lion, bull, winged person and eagle) can be seen as symbols of the four evangelists .
- The portals are particularly richly decorated. The lower part consists of portals with mythical griffins at the base of the side portals. Christ is depicted enthroned between the sun and the moon above the central portal . Next to him on the left is the Madonna with the baby Jesus, on the right you can see St. Rufinus. Plants and flowers, swans and saints are also shown. The artistic execution of this scene is relatively rough, which is why it is assumed that this scene was not originally planned for this central location. Even the slightly inclined seat of the Christ does not speak in favor of careful planning. The bell tower was built in the 11th century. It stands behind the apse of the former church, which was built by Bishop Ugone in 1029. The top of the tower dates from the 13th century. On the tower you can see a huge clock that shows the 24 hours of hora italica (Italian time), a time period that ends with sunset at midnight. The foundations of the tower stand on a Roman cistern .
Interior and equipment
In 1571 the previously Romanesque interior of the cathedral was completely renovated by the architect Gian Galeazzo Alessi from Perugia in the style of the Italian Renaissance . The main nave is separated from the two side aisles by massive columns, and there is also an apse.
At the entrance there is a baptismal font on the right, in which Francis and Clare and others were baptized, especially in 1838 St. Gabriel dell'Addolorata.
On the right is a side chapel in Baroque style (begun in 1541 and enlarged in 1663), some of which contain frescoes by Giacomo Giorgetti (1663). The nine murals are by a 17th century painter Andrea Carloni .
The Chapel of Our Lady of Consolation was built after a miracle in 1496 . In 1494 the German terracotta figure Our Lady of Sorrows over Christ, whom she was holding in her arms, was seen really crying. The 15th century figure was stolen and has now been replaced by a copy.
The main altar from the 19th century stands in the Renaissance choir above the bones of St. Rufinus . There are sculptures of St. Francis and St. Clare by Giovanni Dupré on both sides . In the apse you can see the 22-seat wooden choir stalls by Giovanni di Piertacopo da San Severino (1520). The statue of St Rufinus of Lemoyne stands in the center of the choir.
You can see some paintings by Dono Doni such as B. Christ adored by saints (1555) or the crucifixion (1563).
Under the cathedral is a crypt with a Roman sarcophagus from the 3rd century in which St. Rufinus rests.
The adjoining cathedral museum shows frescoes from the 13th century, relics and old illustrated manuscripts . The most famous is the triptych Madonna and Child and Saints by Nicolò Alunno (1470).
organ
The organ in the chancel, behind the bishopric and the main altar was built between 1848 and 1851 by the organ builder Marteinelli (Umbertide). The purely mechanical instrument has 33 registers , divided into three pipe divisions, which can be played on two manuals (range: C – f 3 ) and pedal (range: C – g 0 ).
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Bells
The cathedral has a valuable ring of six bells from the 13th to 19th centuries. The oldest bell was cast in 1287 and can be rung by hand if necessary. The full ringing of the other bells is reserved for high feasts.
- Bell 1: Maria , cast in 1800 by Giuseppe Filippi and Lorenzo Lera di Lammari, 134 cm, strike note es 1
- Bell 2: Barbara , cast in 1668 by Georgeus Petrutius Eugubinus, 116 cm, strike note f 1
- Bell 3: Rufinus , cast in 1668 by Georgeus Petrutius Eugubinus, 93 cm, strike note as 1
- Bell 4: Cast in 1287 by Bonus de Pisa, 70 cm, strike note c 2
- Bell 5: Cast by Iacomo Doisemont in 1647, 64.5 cm, strike note e 2
- Bell 6: Cast 1738, 55 cm, total 2
Individual evidence
- ↑ Harald Keller : The art landscapes of Italy. (1960) Insel, Frankfurt a. M. 1983, p. 398
- ↑ Information on the organ
- ↑ Musicista97: Campane della Cattedrale di San Rufino di Assisi (PG) (06) of 576. Youtube video, December 25, 2017
Web links
- Cathedral of San Rufino (Engl.) ( Memento of 4 February 2012 at the Internet Archive )
- Cathedral of San Rufino
Coordinates: 43 ° 4 ′ 13.3 ″ N , 12 ° 37 ′ 3.4 ″ E