Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Mantua
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The Basilica of Sant'Andrea is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral and minor basilica in Mantua,
Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
( Italy). It is one of the major works of 15th-century Renaissance architecture in Northern Italy. Commissioned by
Ludovico III Gonzaga Ludovico III Gonzaga of Mantua, also spelled Lodovico (also Ludovico II; 5 June 1412 – 12 June 1478) was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1444 to his death in 1478. Biography Ludovico was the son of Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga and ...
, the church was begun in 1472 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti on a site occupied by a Benedictine monastery, of which the bell tower (1414) remains. The building, however, was only finished 328 years later. Though later changes and expansions altered Alberti's design, the church is still considered to be one of Alberti's most complete works. It looms over the Piazza Mantegna.


Architecture

The façade, built abutting a pre-existing bell tower (1414), is based on the scheme of the ancient Arch of Trajan at Ancona. It is largely a brick structure with hardened stucco used for the surface. It is defined by a large central arch, flanked by Corinthian pilasters. There are smaller openings to the right and left of the arch. A novel aspect of the design was the integration of a lower order, comprising the fluted Corinthian columns, with a giant order, comprising the taller, unfluted pilasters. The whole is surmounted by a pediment and above that a vaulted structure, the purpose of which is not exactly known, but presumably to shade the window opening into the church behind it. An important aspect of Alberti's design was the correspondence between the façade and the interior elevations, both elaborations of the triumphal arch motif, the arcades, like the facade, having alternating high arches and much lower square topped openings. The nave is roofed by a
barrel vault A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault, wagon vault or wagonhead vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are ...
, one of the first times such a form was used in such a monumental scale since antiquity, and probably modeled on the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome. Alberti possibly planned for the vault to be coffered, much like the shorter barrel vault of the entrance, but lack of funds led to the vault being constructed as a simple barrel vault with the coffers then being painted on. Originally, the building was planned without a transept, and possibly even without a
dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
. This phase of construction more or less ended in 1494. In 1597, the lateral arms were added and the crypt finished. The massive dome (1732–1782) was designed by Filippo Juvarra, and the final decorations on the interior added under Paolo Pozzo and others in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Mantova, 1972) - BEIC 6347241.jpg, Elements of the arches on the lateral façade. Photo by Paolo Monti Cupola Della Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Mantova.jpg, Dome Lombardia Mantova5 tango7174.jpg, Interior


Relic of the Holy Blood

The purpose of the new building was to receive the pilgrims for the feast of Ascension when a vial, that the faithful believe contains the Blood of Christ, is brought up from the crypt below through a hole in the floor located directly under the dome. The
relic In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or the personal effects of the saint or venerated person preserved for purposes of veneration as a tangi ...
, called ''Preziosissimo Sangue di Cristo'' ("Most Precious Blood of Christ"), which is preserved in Sacred Vessels. According to tradition the blood was brought to the city by the Roman centurion
Longinus Longinus () is the name given to the unnamed Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance and who in medieval and some modern Christian traditions is described as a convert to Christianity. His name first appeared in the apocryphal G ...
, who had scooped up the earth containing the blood at the foot of the cross. In 804
Holy Roman emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
Charlemagne obtained authentication of the relic from
Pope Leo III Pope Leo III (died 12 June 816) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 26 December 795 to his death. Protected by Charlemagne from the supporters of his predecessor, Adrian I, Leo subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position b ...
for its veneration. According to many scholars, this resulted in the creation of the Diocese of Mantua and the construction of first portion of the Cathedral of St Andrew. The relic was "rediscovered" (''secunda inventio'') ca. 1049, in the presence of
Matilda of Tuscany Matilda of Tuscany ( it, Matilde di Canossa , la, Matilda, ; 1046 – 24 July 1115 or Matilda of Canossa after her ancestral castle of Canossa), also referred to as ("the Great Countess"), was a member of the House of Canossa (also known as th ...
. Pope Leo IX recognized this relic as authentic in 1053, which became highly venerated during the Renaissance. The relic is displayed on
Good Friday Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Hol ...
, to the faithful, and in a procession on the city's streets. Portions of the relic were extracted and taken by Charlemagne to the
St Chapelle The Sainte-Chapelle (; en, Holy Chapel) is a royal chapel in the Gothic architecture, Gothic style, within the medieval Palais de la Cité, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century, on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine ...
in Paris, and later to the
Weingarten Abbey Weingarten Abbey or St. Martin's Abbey (german: Reichsabtei Weingarten until 1803, then merely ) is a Benedictine monastery on the Martinsberg (''St. Martin's Mount'') in Weingarten near Ravensburg in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). First founda ...
, to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, and to the Church of the Holy Cross in Guastalla (built on behalf of Beatrix of Canossa).


Other aspects

Alberti broke with basilican tradition by having multiple chapels branch off the nave instead of lining it with aisles—because the colonnades would block the view of ceremonies in the classic model. One of the chapels is known as the
Mantegna funerary chapel The Mantegna funerary chapel (Italian – ''cappella funeraria di Andrea Mantegna'') is one of the chapels of the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Mantua. It houses the tomb of the painter Andrea Mantegna, Mantegna and his last two paintings – ''Bapti ...
, since it houses the tomb of the early Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna, with a bronze figure of him by
Gianmarco Cavalli Gianmarco is an Italian masculine given name. Its English equivalent is "John Mark" and it is short for "Giovanni Marco". It may refer to: *Gianmarco Bellini- Italian Air Force officer * Gianmarco Cavagnino- Italian architect *Gianmarco Pozzecco ...
and Mantegna's own ''Holy Family''. Other artworks in the chapels include frescoes of Giulio Romano's school (a work by Giulio is currently a copy) and Correggio. In the belltower there are five bells (A, C#, E, F#, A) cast in the 19th century.


Burials

* Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua


Notes


See also

* List of tallest domes * Blood of Christ


References

* * * ''La reliquia del sangue di Cristo: Mantova, l'Italia e l'Europa ad tempo di Leone IX'', ed. Glauco Maria Cantarella, Verona: Scripta, 2012.


External links


Alberti's Sant' Andrea in Mantua
Heather Horton, article at Smarthistory
Basilica Concattedrale di S. Andrea - complesso

Mantua tourist guide
Mantua tourist guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basilica Di Sant'andrea Di Mantova Roman Catholic churches in Mantua Basilica churches in Lombardy Renaissance architecture in Mantua
Andrea Andrea is a given name which is common worldwide for both males and females, cognate to Andreas, Andrej and Andrew. Origin of the name The name derives from the Greek word ἀνήρ (''anēr''), genitive ἀνδρός (''andrós''), that ref ...
Church buildings with domes Leon Battista Alberti church buildings Filippo Juvarra buildings