Pio Monte della Misericordia

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Pio Monte della Misericordia
View of the facade

View of the facade

Data
place Naples (NA)
builder Francesco Antonio Picchiatti
Construction year 17th century
Coordinates 40 ° 51 '6.7 "  N , 14 ° 15' 37.5"  E Coordinates: 40 ° 51 '6.7 "  N , 14 ° 15' 37.5"  E
Logo Pio Monte della Misericordia Napoli.svg

The Pio Monte della Misericordia ( Italian : “ Holy Mountain of Mercy ”) is a charitable institution and a historical building complex in Naples on the Piazza Riario Sforza, along the Decumano Maggiore .

The associated church is u. a. famous for Caravaggio's painting The Seven Works of Mercy . On the first floor there is also a historical archive and one of the most important museums in the city, the Quadreria del Pio Monte della Misericordia (picture collection of the Pio Monte della M.).

history

Foundation and statutes (early 17th century)

The Pio Monte was founded by seven Neapolitans who from 1601 met regularly at the Ospedale degli Incurabili to start a program for feeding the sick at their own expense. Their names were: Cesare Sersale, Giovan Andrea Gambacorta, Girolamo Lagni, Astorgio Agnese, Giovan Battista d'Alessandro, Giovan Vincenzo Piscicelli and Giovanni Battista Manso Over time, both the charitable tasks and the available capital, which soon grew to 6,328 Ducats .

In 1602 the Pio Monte della Misericordia was founded as an institution that took care of the administration and distribution of resources and organized charitable activities. This included: help and support for the poor and needy, for the sick and prisoners, hospitality and hospitality for pilgrims , liberation of people who were in prison for debts , liberation of Christian slaves from slavery and captivity by Islamic Berbers or similar.

In 1603 the statutes of Pio Monte were issued, with the approval of Viceroy Giovanni Alfonso Pimentel de Herrera and later with the official support of Pope Paul V (1605). They consisted of 33 articles, the so-called Capitolazioni . From the beginning, the financing was in the hands of lay people.

The new round table in the Sala del Governo , which replaces the heptagonal table from the 17th century

Every three and a half years seven governatori (leaders) were elected, who came from the nobility and had to be at least 25 years old. In order to guarantee the best possible management, a kind of "rolling system" was laid down in the Capitolazioni, according to which the Governatori had to look after a different area of ​​responsibility every six months, which corresponded to the seven physical works of mercy , e.g. B. burial of the dead, visiting prisoners, releasing prisoners, helping the poor, providing shelter for strangers (or pilgrims) - last but not least, managing the capital fund of the Pio Monte. In the meeting room there was even a heptagonal table with the biblical motto of Pio Monte Fluent ad eum omnes gentes (from Isaiah ) engraved on each side , and inlays with images of the seven works of mercy. Every half a year the governatori moved up one place so that at the end everyone had completed all their tasks.

Although the Pio Monte emerged from a lay movement, there was also a collaboration with the Order of the Jesuits , for which money was made available several times for the construction of various buildings. In the 1620s, the organization was also active in Ischia , in the Casamicciola area , where a hospice was built under the direction of Conforto , which could accommodate up to 300 poor a year.

The first building of Conforto (1st half of the 17th century)

Originally, the first seat of Pio Monte was in a church that was built from 1607 to 1621 by Giovan Giacomo di Conforto , who received 25 ducats for it. The exact appearance of this structure is not known, but from a mid-17th century map by Alessandro Baratta , it can be concluded that it was rectangular and much smaller than the current palazzo .

In 1607 Caravaggio was commissioned to paint the seven works of mercy for the presbytery of the church and received 400 ducats for the finished picture. The Governatori of Pio Monte liked the picture so much that in 1613 they decided that it should always remain in the chapel for which it was intended and that it could not be sold. Copying or reproducing the picture was also prohibited. The furnishing of the church with further altarpieces continued until the second half of the 17th century. a. Fabrizio Santafede , Battistello Caracciolo and Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino involved.

High altar with the "Seven Works of Mercy" by Caravaggio

New building by Picchiatti (2nd half of the 17th century)

As the building soon became too small for the growing demands, the first church was demolished in 1653. Between 1658 and 1678 a completely new building was carried out on a larger scale, for which several neighboring properties had been purchased. Cosimo Fanzago was initially planned for the new project, but he declined because of too many other tasks, so the choice fell on the architect Francesco Antonio Picchiatti , to whom the building owes its current appearance.

In 1666 the dome of the church was completed. The sculptural decorations on the facade, in the stairwell and the holy water basin were created by Andrea Falcone , who from 1668 to 1671 together with Pietro Pelliccia also realized the balustrades and the marble decoration of the altars. In 1671 Luca Giordano received a salary of 200 ducats for his burial of Christ . From 1678 to 1680, Bonaventura Presti , a pupil of Picchiatti, completed the rooms on the third floor.

At the beginning of the 18th century until around 1720 the building was restored by Giovanni Battista Manni ; other work took place in 1763.

In 1914, the Pio Monte issued an absolute ban on the alienation of his works of art, and in 1973 the picture gallery ( Quadreria del Pio Monte della Misericordia ) was set up under Superintendent Tommaso Leonetti , Count of Santo Janni . Finally, a museum was set up in the building in 2005, with a tour of the church and the halls on the first floor, where the archive and the collection of paintings are located.

Even today, the Pio Monte della Misericordia is active in the charity sector and supports various local institutions; the church is still consecrated and serves religious purposes.

Plan of the Complesso del Pio Monte

  1. Allegory , Andrea Falcone (1666);
  2. Entrance to the church;
  3. Madonna of Mercy , Andrea Falcone (1666);
  4. Entrance to the Complesso del Pio Monte;
  5. Allegory , Andrea Falcone (1666);
  6. Christ and the Adulteress , Luca Giordano (c. 1660);
  7. Relief of Saint Peter , Battistello Caracciolo (1615);
  8. Entombment of Christ , Luca Giordano (1671);
  9. Peter heals Tabitha , Fabrizio Santafede (1611);
  10. The Seven Works of Mercy , Caravaggio (1607);
    Saint Anne , Giacomo De Castro (around 1665, side wall);
    Madonna della Purità , Andrea Malinconico (c. 1670, side wall);
  11. The Good Samaritan , Giovanni Vincenzo da Forlì (1607-08);
  12. Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary , Fabrizio Santafede (1612);
  13. San Paolino frees a slave , Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino (1626–30);
  14. Stairs to the upper floors of the Complesso;
  15. King David , Andrea Falcone (1674–75);
  16. Patio.
plan

The Church (Chiesa del Pio Monte)

Exterior

Facade of the palazzo in an engraving from 1718

The Palazzo des Pio Monte rises just a few meters from the stairs that lead to the right aisle of the cathedral , opposite the Cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro and the Guglia di San Gennaro .

King David of Falcone on the stairs

The church is located inside the building and does not have its own facade on the outside. The palace facade is three-story, on the ground floor an elegant portico made of Piperno with five arcades and Ionic pilasters , a work by Salomone Rapi . On a frieze on the first floor is the Latin motto of Pio Monte: " Fluent ad eum omnes gentes ", a biblical verse from Isaiah ; the pilasters here are of Corinthian order, the capitals on the upper floor are of composite order.

The wall inside the portico is decorated with some statues, in the middle arcade there is the Madonna of Mercy . The two allegorical figures in the two outer niches, behind the first and fifth arcades, represent works of charity . All three figures are from Andrea Falcone , son of the more famous Aniello , possibly based on designs by Cosimo Fanzago .

The entrance to the church is behind the fourth arcade from the left, the portal of the second arcade (from the left) leads into the interior of the palazzo, with an atrium and the inner courtyard with a 17th century fountain (from Piperno). The first landing is adorned with Andrea Falcone's statue of King David .

inner space

Interior of the church

The church interior is of simple elegance and harmony: an octagon with a light-filled dome, a main altar and six side chapels . The colors white and gray dominate, the walls are decently decorated with marble and stucco.

The presbytery and the six side chapels are separated from the main room by balustrades; the altars and marble décor are by Andrea Falcone and Pietro Pelliccia. The chapels are organized in a cross shape: there are four larger main chapels (the presbytery opposite the entrance and two side chapels) and four smaller and lower chapels in the corners; Over the latter there are small balconies with bars through which one can see into the church from the first floor. The shape and geometry of the room are reminiscent of the nearby Cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro , which was created in 1608 according to plans by Francesco Grimaldi .

Detail of the marble floor

The floor made of tiles and polychrome marble has a very decorative effect - also a work by Falcone, who also created the two holy water stoups according to Picchiatti's designs.

The presbytery is dominated by Caravaggio's large painting The Seven Works of Mercy from 1607 ; next to it on the side walls a Saint Anne by Giacomo Di Castro (approx. 1665) and a Madonna della Purità by Andrea Malinconico (1670).

Opposite it, above the entrance portal, is a faithful copy of Luca Giordano's Christ and the Adulteress (c. 1660).

Inside of the dome

The altarpieces in the side chapels depict scenes from the Gospels , which also serve as individual allegories for works of mercy. On the right side are: in the first chapel San Paolino freed a slave (1626–1630) by Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino (= freeing the prisoners); it follows Fabrizio Santafedes Christ in the house of Martha and Maria (1612) (= hospitality for pilgrims and foreigners); finally The Good Samaritan (1607–1608) by Giovanni Vincenzo Forlì (= help for the sick).

On the left: in the first chapel the liberation of St. Peter (1615) by Battistello Caracciolo (= liberation of the prisoners); the burial of Christ (1671) by Luca Giordano (= burial of the dead); and at last Peter saves Tabitha (1611) by Fabrizio Santafede (the hungry to eat, the thirsty to drink, clothing to the naked).

Picture gallery

The gallery of the Quadreria del Pio Monte della Misericordia owns 140 paintings, about 122 of which are on display. These are works from the 16th to 19th centuries, most of which were donated to Pio Monte, such as For example, part of the painting collection of the painter Francesco De Mura , who originally bequeathed 180 pictures to Pio Monte when he died, the proceeds of which were to be used to support charitable works. Other important works of art come from donations from Gennaro Marciano (1802) and Maria Sofia Capece Galeota (1933).

The museum also exhibits paraments from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as other works of applied art , archival documents and original furniture, including the seven-sided table described above, which was used at the Governatori meetings. In the Sala del Coretto there is also a "false cabinet", behind which an opening is hidden, from which the governatori could admire their favorite picture of Caravaggio on the main altar without being seen.

Library and historical archive

The library of the Pio Monte was created at the same time as the establishment of the institution, it was fed by donations and testamentary legacies and contains 17,000 volumes, mainly books on history , heraldry and art history .

The archive is one of the most important in Naples and counts among its treasures all the documents relating to the foundation and history of Pio Monte, including the contracts with the artists and architects of the church. Here you can also find the aforementioned will of Francesco De Mura from 1782, in which he bequeathed his collection of paintings to Pio Monte.

  • View from the upper balcony of the main altar with Caravaggio's altarpiece

literature

  • AA.VV .: Napoli e dintorni , Touring Club Italiano, Milan 2007. ISBN 978-88-365-3893-5 (Italian)
  • R. Causa: Opere d'Arte nel Pio Monte della Misericordia , Cava dei Tirreni, Naples, 1970. (Italian)
  • C. Celano: Notie sul bello, dell'antico e del curioso della città di Napoli, per i signori forestieri ... divise in dieci giornate , Naples, 1692. (Italian)
  • D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, pp. 185-201. ISBN 978-88-8011-139-9 (Italian)
  • MG Leonetti Rodinò: Il Pio Monte della Misericordia - la storia, la chiesa, la quadreria , Naples, 1991. (Italian)
  • M. Morelli: I dipinti di Francesco de Mura acquistati per la Galleria del Museo Nazionale di Napoli , in: Bollettino d'Arte , Naples, 1910, pp. 293-302. (Italian)
  • M. Pisani Massamormile (Ed.): Il Pio Monte della Misericordia di Napoli nel Quarto Centenario , Naples, 2003. (Italian)
  • Ulisse Prota - Giurleo: Pittori montemurresi del '600 , Comune di Montemurro, 1952. (Italian)
  • MG Rodinò di Miglione: Note on the Quadreria del Pio Monte della Misericordia , Naples, 1975. (Italian)
  • M. Ruggiero: Il Monte della Misericordia , in: Napoli Nobilissima , IX, fasc. I, Naples 1902, pp. 1-9. (Italian)
  • Simona Starita: Andrea Aspreno Falcone e la scultura della metà del Seicento a Napoli , doctoral thesis for the Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche “Ettore Lepore” of the Università “Federico II”, Naples, 2010–11. (Italian)
  • RM Zito: Alcune notizie intorno la vita di Cesare Sersale e la fondazione del Monte della Misericordia , Napel, 1856. (Italian)

Individual notes

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Napoli e dintorni , Touring Club Italiano, Milan 2007, p. 219
  2. ^ A b D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 185
  3. ^ Il Pio Monte della Misericordia - Sito ufficiale. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016 ; accessed on December 10, 2016 .
  4. ^ A b D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 186
  5. ^ A b c d D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 193
  6. ^ A b D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 191
  7. ^ A b c D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 192
  8. ^ C. de Seta: Napoli , Roma-Bari, 1981, p. 154
  9. ↑ a b c Schede dei dipinti dal sito ufficiale. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016 ; accessed on December 13, 2016 .
  10. ^ Renato Mazzoli: Caravaggio: un genio in fuga , 2010
  11. ^ D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 197
  12. ↑ Simona Starita: Andrea Aspreno Falcone e la scultura della metà del Seicento a Napoli , doctoral thesis for the Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche "Ettore Lepore" of the Università "Federico II", Naples, 2010-11, p. 132
  13. ↑ Simona Starita: Andrea Aspreno Falcone e la scultura della metà del Seicento a Napoli , doctoral thesis for the Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche "Ettore Lepore" of the Università "Federico II", Naples, 2010-11, p. 136
  14. ^ A b c D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 200
  15. ^ D. Del Pesco: Il cantiere del Pio Monte della Misericordia a Napoli , in: Napoli è tutto il mondo. Neapolitan art and culture from humanism to the enlightenment (by L. Pestilli, ID Rowland, S. Schütze), Fabrizio Serra editore, Pisa - Rome 2008, p. 201
  16. ^ Digitali Pio Monte della Misericordia - Video istituzionale on YouTube , April 17, 2008, accessed on December 18, 2016 (Italian).
  17. ↑ Simona Starita: Andrea Aspreno Falcone e la scultura della metà del Seicento a Napoli , doctoral thesis for the Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche “Ettore Lepore” of the Università “Federico II”, Naples, 2010–11, p. 148
  18. ^ A b Simona Starita: Andrea Aspreno Falcone e la scultura della metà del Seicento a Napoli , doctoral thesis for the Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche “Ettore Lepore” of the Università “Federico II”, Naples, 2010–11, p. 150
  19. ↑ La Quadreria dal sito ufficiale. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017 ; accessed on December 14, 2016 .
  20. ↑ Donazioni pittoriche dal sito ufficiale. Retrieved December 18, 2016 .
  21. ↑ La biblioteca del Pio Monte dal sito ufficiale. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016 ; accessed on December 16, 2016 .

See also

Web links

Commons : Pio Monte della Misericordia  - collection of images, videos and audio files