San Donato (Genoa)

facade

The Church of San Donato is a religious Catholic building in the historic center of Genoa , in the square of the same name in the Molo district. The parish is part of the “Centro Est” deanery of the Archdiocese of Genoa .

history

Campanile

The first documented evidence of the church, consecrated from the beginning to the martyr bishop Donatus of Arezzo , dates back to the 11th century, but it is believed that the original church was built in much older times, probably in the 7th century, though nothing is left of this first church.

The current building, built at the beginning of the 12th century and expanded in the second half of the same century, is the most important example of Genoese Romanesque architecture. There is evidence that it was a parish church and seat of a college of canons as early as 1160 . It was consecrated in 1189 by Archbishop Bonifacio, who was previously provost in San Donato.

The external structure of the church has not changed significantly over the centuries, although some repairs after the damage caused by the French naval bombing of 1684 resulted in some changes to the original structure, particularly the apse . Some interventions were carried out by Michele Canzio towards the middle of the 19th century, but it was not until the end of the century that the building was systematically restored by Alfredo D'Andrade in two phases between 1888 and 1895. Not only did the architect D'Andrade limit himself to a conservative restoration, but also made some changes (such as adding a third row of window arches to the north tower). On December 4, 1892, at the end of the first phase of restoration, the church was consecrated again by Archbishop Tommaso Reggio.

The roof of the main nave was rebuilt with exposed wooden trusses after the 18th century masonry was destroyed during World War II by the bombing of October 22, November 6, 1942 and September 4, 1944. Damage to the apse was caused by the collapse of nearby buildings, including the Oratory of Death and Mercy, which was completely destroyed.

The restoration work carried out between 1946 and 1951, in addition to repairing the damage caused by the bombing, also restored the original Romanesque style and removed the overbuilding that had emerged over the years. In particular, the destroyed side apses, which go back to the restructuring in the 18th century, were rebuilt on the original foundations of the 12th century with stone blocks that were found during the work. The only interior decoration is the stucco work of the Corinthian capitals from the 19th century, which differ from the cubic, typically medieval, in the area of the transept.

Oratory of Death and Mercy

Next to the apse of the church, in the Vico Biscotti, stood the Oratory of Death and Mercy, home of the Arch-Brotherhood of Death, which was destroyed by bombing during World War II. Only a large plaque on the wall of the modern building, which has replaced the old oratory, recalls this ancient place of worship, which was built in 1637 according to a design by Giovanni Battista Garrè and painted in 1680 by Giovanni Andrea Carlone. Like all oratorios of the brotherhoods, it was closed in 1811, but opened again that same year at the request of Cardinal Spina.

description

Outside

The facade is made of local limestone with a robe in black and white and a recycled Roman architrave . It is the typical model of the Romanesque church of Genoa, simple, austere and without unnecessary decorative elements, even if the current appearance does not fully reflect the original, because it is characterized in part by the restoration work by Alfredo d'Andrade in the 19th century and new works the year 1925 was changed. In addition to removing the plaster from the 16th century, the central rose window , the two monoforias and the black and white striped portico were added.

On the right side of the church, where the road of St. Augustine begins, there is a large Baroque shrine from the 18th century with a statue of the Madonna and Child, the work of Giovanni Domenico Casella called Scorticone (1595-1648), and the Representation of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.

Campanile

Of particular interest is the octagonal bell tower with a tiburium (it is a tower that, typical of the archaic Romanesque, is integrated into the structure of the main building and is the only example of this type in Genoa), the one with sawtooth friezes and a triple arrangement of biforias and Triforias , the third of which was added during the restoration by Alfredo d'Andrade at the end of the 19th century.

Inside

The interior consists of a three-aisled basilica , each with its own apse , which is divided by twelve columns, the type of which reflects the different construction phases. The six reused Roman granite columns date back to the first construction, while they were expanded at the end of the 12th century with white and black columns with Romanesque capitals. Above it are biforias of a false gallery with two columns and differently decorated capitals. The columns that support the tiburium also go back to the first building.

Chapel of Saint Joseph

The left aisle leads to the chapel, once the the St. Joseph sacred oratorio of the carpenter that has been integrated in the 19th century through the opening of a door to the church. Built in the 17th century, it was modified in the following century.

Works of art

Panel of the Madonna and Child by Nicolò da Voltri

Triptych of the Adoration of the Magi

Since 1996 the Chapel of Saint Joseph has housed the most important work of art in the church, the triptych with doors by the Flemish artist Joos van Cleve (1515), depicting the Adoration of the Magi (in the middle), the client Stefano Raggi with his patron saint (left Door), the Magdalena (right door) and the crucifixion (in the upper Kymation ).

The triptych, from the nearby Oratory of the Three Kings, which was demolished at the end of the 18th century, was stolen in October 1974. Rediscovered three months later without a frame, which was restored by Florentine masters. After its discovery, it was exhibited in the National Gallery of Palazzo Spinola until it was safely housed in 1996 after the restoration of the chapel.

More works of art

Other valuable works in the church include the Madonna and Child , a 14th century painting by Nicolò da Voltri, one of the artist's best works., And a Madonna del Latte by Barnaba da Modena , also from the 14th century. Century.
On the altar of the Chapel of St. Joseph a Holy Family from the 17th century by Domenico Piola commissioned by the Carpenters' Society. This picture was also stolen in 1974 and found a few months later.
Baptism of Jesus, marble relief with statues, started by Ignazio Peschiera (1777–1839) and completed by his student Carlo Rubatto (1810–1891).
17th century crucifix with the Virgin, the Eternal Father and Saints Donato and Stefanus The painting was attributed to the school of Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo (1584–1638).
Intercession Madonna , painting by Jean François de Troy (1710), restored in 1999 by the Genoa Provincial Administration.
Statue of the Madonna and Child , called Our Lady of the Third Age , attributed to Giovanni Domenico Casella, from the Church of Santa Croce in Sarzano, which was abolished at the beginning of the 19th century.
Wooden processional statue depicting the Madonna del Carmine (1790).

In the second and third arches of the right colonnade there are traces of two frescoes from the 13th century depicting the Virgin on the throne with saints and the crucifixion .

gallery

Apse and campanile
Aedicula on the outside
portal
Inscription above the portal: Indulgentia Plenaria

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Storia della chiesa . Parish of San Donato. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o La chiesa di San Donato . stoarte.unige.it.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Guida d'Italia - Liguria . Touring Club Italiano, Milan 2009.
↑ ^a ^b C. Ceschi: Restauro di edifici danneggiati dalla guerra - Liguria . In: Bollettino d'Arte . tape I . Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, 1953, p. 75 ( beniculturali.it [PDF]).
↑ ^a ^b Mauro Ricchetti: Liguria sconosciuta - itinerari insoliti e curiosi . Rizzoli, Milan 2002, ISBN 88-7423-008-7 .
↑ L'oratorio della Morte e Misericordia . www.isegretideivicolidigenova.com.
↑ L'oratorio della Morte e Misericordia . In: Giornale degli studiosi di lettere, scienze, arti e mestieri . Genoa 1870.
Jump up ↑ The Triumph of the Adoration of the Magi . www.fosca.unige.it.
^ Il dipinto di Nicolò da Voltri . www.fosca.unige.it.

literature

Nadia Pazzini Paglieri, Rinangelo Paglieri: Chiese in Liguria . Sagep Editrice, Genoa 1990, ISBN 88-7058-361-9 .
Mauro Ricchetti: Liguria sconosciuta - itinerari insoliti e curiosi . Rizzoli, Milan 2002, ISBN 88-7423-008-7 .
Guida d'Italia - Liguria . TCI , Milan 2009.
Descrizione di Genova e del Genovesato . Tipografia Ferrando, Genoa 1846.