San Giovanni Battista (Villamar)
The church of San Giovanni Battista ( John the Baptist ) in Villamar in the province of Sud Sardegna in Sardinia is a Gothic- Catalan church from the 16th century. Its beamed gable roof rests on Gothic supporting arches; the Capilla Mayor has a star vault.
The culturally and historically significant thing in this church is the 7.6 × 3.8 m large reredos behind the altar . It is the main work of the School of Stampace ( Pietro Cavaro d. 1537) from Cagliari that points the way for Catalan-Sardinian painting .
On the facade with two bell gables , the wall part from the 13th century consists of limestone and volcanic stone. It has a Romanesque portal with an architrave that rests on sculptural capitals and is surmounted by a discharge arch.
In a gilded frame decorated with Gothic carvings, it shows the wooden statue of the Madonna in the middle and above it a crucifixion, which for the first time in the history of painting in Sardinia depicts the Nicodemus crucifix by Oristano . In addition to the Archangel Michael, John the Baptist, Saint Francis, the baptism of Christ and the apostles Peter and Paul are shown. The predella shows the Annunciation, the birth of Jesus, the adoration of the kings, the resurrection, as well as the Ascension, Pentecost and the death of Mary. The screens (guardapols) adorn panels of the Heavenly Father and numerous saints.
The lower ends are decorated with the coat of arms of the Aymerich family , the former lords of Mara Arbarei, as the old name of Villamar is, as well as an inscription with the date and the name of the artist:
"ANNO SALUTIS MDXVIII (1518) MENSIS MAIUS (May) PINGIT HOC RETABOLUM PETRI CAVARO PICTORUM MINIMUS STAMPACIS".
Web links
Coordinates: 39 ° 37 '2.4 " N , 8 ° 57' 43.7" E