- Address
- corso Duomo, 41121 Modena
- Tag place
zoom
Description
Modena, Dome
The Dome of Modena was built on the foundations of the former cathedral since 1099, according to the will of the town’s citizens and high clergy who decided to entrust architect Lanfranco with the direction of the building work. The architect is celebrated in the epigraph engraved on the central apse. The decorative program underwent many modifications and saw the contribution of sculptors of different backgrounds. Since the origin, it foresaw a rich and various sculpture system. The capitals, the ornamental reliefs of the three original thresholds and the metopes - architectural elements articulating the parts of the ceiling- provide the representation of a great number of human and fictional figures. The reason for this complex decorative program is to be found in the reliefs decorating the façade realized by Wiligelmo, which underline the key role of this church in the Salvation of Modena worshippers. The inside of the church still presents some traces of the rich decorations which had been constantly replaced during the centuries and which were totally erased on occasion of the 17th century restorations. The wharf realized by some local craftsmen in the second half of the 12th century was already modified in the 13th century by the Capionesi masters. These professionals made many other interventions to the building. They carried out the construction of transept, rose and the lateral doors of the façade as well as the complete repainting of the interior. Of the rich Renaissance chapels, today we can only admire the frescoes covering the vault of the Bellincini chapel, the earthenware Nativity (1527-31) realized by Antonio Begarelli and the big St. Sebastian altarpiece by Dosso Dossi. Inside the crypt, the tomb of St. Geminiano, patron saint of the city, is surrounded by Baroque decorations. Nearby stands Madonna della Poppa (1480-85), a valuable earthenware group originally hosted in St. Cecilia church and realized by Guido Mazzoni.
Other pictures
