Cremona Cathedral ( Italian : Duomo di Cremona , Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta ), dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary , is a Catholic cathedral in Cremona , Lombardy, northern Italy. It is the seat of the Bishop of Cremona . Its bell tower is the famous Torrazzo , symbol of the city and tallest pre-modern tower in Italy.
16-488: Also adjoining is the baptistery , another important medieval monument. Originally built in Romanesque style, the cathedral has been restored and extended several times, with Gothic , Renaissance and Baroque elements. Construction began in 1107, but the works were damaged and halted after an earthquake in 1117 . Construction resumed in 1129, and the building was probably finished in 1160-1170. The main altar, dedicated to
32-712: A Madonna with St. John the Baptist and a Bishop now in the Museo Civico. He is supposed to have visited Rome , and thought to be identical with a painter who was there known as Vetriario . Other works in Cremona include in San Niccoló, a St. Nicholas with the Virgin and in San Pietro is a Madonna (1524). His style recalls Fra Bartolommeo . Giovanni Francesco or Gianfrancesco Bembo, was
48-491: A portico with a narthex in the middle, to which a Renaissance loggia with three niches was added in 1491. This is surmounted by a large rose window , flanked by two orders of loggette ("small loggias"). The portal is probably from the early 12th century. On its side are the figures of the Four Major Prophets , each bearing a roll with the text of their prophecies. The narthex was made by masters from Campione in
64-508: Is characterized by an octagonal plan, a reference to the cult of St. Ambrose of Milan , symbolizing the Eight Day of Resurrection and, thenceforth, the Baptism. The edifice mixes Romanesque and Lombard- Gothic styles, the latter evident in the preference for bare brickwork walls. To the 16th century restorations belong the marble cover of some walls, the pavement and the baptismal font (1531) and
80-537: Is the fresco decoration on the side walls of the nave (early 16th century), portraying the Life of Mary and Christ . Different painters collaborated to its execution: the first was Boccaccio Boccaccino (with Annunciation to Joachim and Jesus with the Doctors ), who, in 1506, had already painted a Redemeer with Cremona's Patron Saints in the apse vault. He was succeeded by Giovan Francesco Bembo ( Epiphany and Presentation at
96-400: Is the urn of Saints Marcellinus and Peter , sculpted mostly by Benedetto Briosco (1506-1513), in the crypt. The wooden choir, with inlay work by Platina (1482-1490), and the contemporary large altar cross in silver and gold, by Ambrogio Pozzi and Agostino Sacchi (1478), in the right aisle of the northern transept, are also notable. The most important figurative complex of the cathedral
112-699: The frescoes of the Stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph in the southern and northern transept vaults (late 14th-early 15th century). Also from the Renaissance are the arch of the Stories of the Martyrs Marius and Marta, Audifax and Habakkuk , martyrs in Persia (best known as Arch of the Persian Martyrs , 1482), and the relief of Saint Himerius (1481-1484), both works by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo . Also notable
128-661: The narthex (1588) of the entrance, in Romanesque style, work by Angelo Nani . The interior has a 14th-century Crucifix, over the St. John altar, and two wooden statues portraying "St. Philip Neri" and "St. John the Baptist" by Giovanni Bertesi. Over the ceiling is a 12th-century statue of the Archangel Gabriel. 45°7′59.21″N 10°1′30.26″E / 45.1331139°N 10.0250722°E / 45.1331139; 10.0250722 Giovan Francesco Bembo Giovanni Francesco Bembo
144-455: The 17th century Il Genovesino added the Life of St. Roch in the northern transept. 45°08′01″N 10°01′32″E / 45.1335°N 10.0255°E / 45.1335; 10.0255 Battistero di Cremona The Cremona Baptistery (Italian: Battistero di Cremona ) is a religious edifice in Cremona , northern Italy . It is annexed to the city's Cathedral . Built in 1167, it
160-564: The Temple ) and Altobello Melone ( Flight to Egypt , Massacre of the Innocents and the first four panels of the Passion of Christ ), who both adopted a less classicist style. Next came Girolamo Romanino , author of the scenes from Jesus before Pilatus to Ecce Homo , who painted some of his masterworks here. The last scenes of the Passion were executed by Il Pordenone , who was also responsible of
176-450: The city's patron saints Archelaus and Himerius , was consecrated in 1196. The current façade was probably built in the 13th and the early 14th century. In the same period the arms of the transept were also added: the northern in 1288 and the southern in 1348. The main façade, together with the adjoining baptistery, is one of the most important monuments of Romanesque art in Europe. It has
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#1733085525211192-717: The following century: it incorporates an older frieze portraying the Labours of the Months (late 12th century, inspired by that in the Baptistery of Parma ). The four statues on the upper loggia, portraying the Madonna with Child and two bishops, are of the Tuscan school (1310). The columns of the narthex stand on two lions in Verona marble. The left one is holding a dragon, symbol of Evil, in his paws, while
208-578: The large Crucifixion (1521), the Deposition (1521, counterfaçade) and the Schizzi Altarpiece (before 1523, on the first altar in the right aisles), the latter inspired by Giorgione 's style. The complex was completed by Bernardino Gatti with the Resurrection (1529). Other frescoes were added in the mid-16th century by Mannerist painters, including Gatti himself, Bernardino Campi and others. In
224-401: The right one is holding a bear, which in turn is biting a bird's neck. On the façade are also two tombs: the more recent one (mid-14th century) is by Bonino da Campione . The façade of the northern arm of the transept (late 13th century) also has a narthex; and its columns also have two lions at the base. It is characterized by a sequence of mullioned windows and rose windows. The façade of
240-509: The southern arm of the transept dates from 1342, and is in brickwork , as is typical in Lombard Gothic architecture. Its structure is similar to the northern arm, but has slightly more detailed decoration. The three apses are all surmounted by loggias with small columns, each having a human face stretching out from the capital. The central apse is much higher than the flanking ones. The interior houses important works of art. The oldest are
256-510: Was an Italian Renaissance painter from Cremona , mainly active from 1515 to 1543. He apprenticed with Boccaccio Boccaccino . In 1515, he painted two frescoes: Presentation in the Temple and an Adoration of the Magi for the Duomo of Cremona . He painted an altarpiece for San Pietro depicting a Madonna with three saints and a donor in 1524. In 1530, he painted a Madonna with Saint Stephen and in 1540,
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