The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the major churches in

Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...

, Italy. The remains of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers ( Dominicans), are buried inside the exquisite shrine Arca di San Domenico, made by

Nicola Pisano Nicola Pisano (also called ''Niccolò Pisano'', ''Nicola de Apulia'' or ''Nicola Pisanus''; c. 1220/1225 – c. 1284) was an Italian sculptor whose work is noted for its classical Roman sculptural style. Pisano is sometimes considered to be the ...

and his workshop, Arnolfo di Cambio and with later additions by Niccolò dell'Arca and the young Michelangelo.

History

Dominic Guzman, on arriving in Bologna in January 1218, was impressed by the vitality of the city and quickly recognized the importance of this university town to his evangelizing mission. A convent was established at the Mascarella church by the Blessed

Reginald of Orleans Reginald is a masculine given name in the English language. Etymology and history The meaning of Reginald is “King". The name is derived from the Latin ''Reginaldus'', which has been influenced by the Latin word ''regina'', meaning "queen". Th ...

. As this convent soon became too small for their increasing number, the preaching Brothers moved in 1219 to the small church of San Nicolò of the Vineyards at the outskirts of Bologna. St. Dominic settled in this church and held here the first two General Chapters of the order (1220 and 1221). Saint Dominic died in this church on 6 August 1221. He was buried behind the altar of San Nicolò. Between 1219 and 1243 the Dominicans bought all surrounding plots of land around the church. After the death of Saint Dominic, the church of San Nicolò was expanded and a new monastic complex was built between 1228 and 1240. The apsidal area of the church was demolished and the nave was extended and grew into the Basilica of Saint-Dominic, This church became the prototype of many other Dominican churches throughout the world. The big basilica was divided in two parts: *the front part, called “internal church”, was the church of the brothers. It was built in a protogothic style with a nave, two aisles and ogival vaults. *the church for the faithful, called “external church”, with the simple columns and the trussed flat roof of the old church. Both churches were divided by a ramp. The church was consecrated by Pope Innocent IV on 17 October 1251. On this occasion the crucifix by

Giunta Pisano Giunta Pisano (also named Giunta da Pisa or Giunta Capitini) was an Italian painter. He is the earliest Italian painter whose name is found inscribed on an extant work. He is best known for his crucifixes. Works He is said to have exercised hi ...

was shown for the first time to the faithful. The remains of the saint were moved in 1233 from its place behind the altar to a simple marble sarcophagus, situated on the floor in the right aisle of the church for the faithful. Since most of the pilgrims, who came in great numbers to see the grave, were not able to see this shrine, hidden by so many people standing in front of it, the need was felt for a new shrine. In 1267 the remains of Saint Dominic were then moved from the simple sarcophagus into the new shrine, decorated with the main episodes from the life of the Saint by

. Work would continue on this shrine for almost five centuries. The church was enlarged and the two sections were modified in many ways in the course of the next centuries. New side chapels were built, the majority in the 15th century. A Roman-Gothic bell tower was added in 1313 (recently restored). The dividing wall between the two churches was finally demolished in the beginning of the 17th century. The choir was at the same time moved behind the altar. Between 1728 and 1732 the interior of the church was completely renewed by the architect Carlo Francesco Dotti, sponsored by the Dominican pope Benedict XIII, into its present-day Baroque style. Early on the church began receiving many works of art from the faithful. This has grown into the present-day vast collection of exceptional art treasures created by some the greatest Italian artists, including

, Arnolfo di Cambio, Niccolò dell'Arca, Michelangelo, Iacopo da Bologna, Guido Reni,

Guercino Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666),Miller, 1964 better known as Guercino, or il Guercino , was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna. The vi ...

and

Filippino Lippi Filippino Lippi (April 1457 – 18 April 1504) was an Italian painter working in Florence, Italy during the later years of the Early Renaissance and first few years of the High Renaissance. Biography Filippino Lippi was born in Prato, Tusc ...

Square and façade

The square in front of the church is paved with pebbles, as it was in medieval times. The square was used by the faithful to listen to the sermon from the preacher from the pulpit on the left corner of the church. It was also the original cemetery. The column in the middle of the square is a brickwork column with the bronze statue of St Dominic (1627) and on the back of the square a column in marble, bricks and copper of the ''Madonna of the Rosary'', after a design by Guido Reni (1632), commemorating the end of the

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pe ...

in the city. Behind the first column stands the tomb of Rolandino de’ Passeggeri by Giovanni (1305) and on the left, adjoining a house, the tomb of Egidio Foscarari (1289), enriched with an ancient

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

marble arch with relief works from the 9th century. The Romanesque façade dates from 1240 and was restored in 1910 by the architect Raffaele Faccioli. In the center is a large, embroidered rose window. The lunette above the portal contains a copy (1921) of ''St Dominic blessing Bologna'' by

Lucia Casalini-Torelli Lucia Casalini Torelli (1677–1762) was an Italian painter, active in Bologna. The wife of painter Felice Torelli (and, through him, sister-in-law of violinist and composer Giuseppe Torelli), she was the mother of painter Stefano Torelli. She ...

(1677–1762). On the left side of the façade is the Lodovico Ghisilardi chapel in

Renaissance style Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought a ...

. It was built as an example of

Vitruvian The ''Vitruvian Man'' ( it, L'uomo vitruviano; ) is a drawing by the Italian Renaissance artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to . Inspired by the writings by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, the drawing depicts a nude man in two s ...

classicism by the architect

Baldassarre Peruzzi Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi (7 March 1481 – 6 January 1536) was an Italian architect and painter, born in a small town near Siena (in Ancaiano, ''frazione'' of Sovicille) and died in Rome. He worked for many years with Bramante, Raphael, and lat ...

around 1530.

Interior

Nave

The church consists of a central

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

, two lateral aisles, several side chapels, a

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building wi ...

, a

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

and an

apse In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an '' exedra''. ...

. The interior was completely renewed in Baroque style with refined elegance and well-balanced proportions by the architect Carlo Francesco Dotti (1678–1759). In the lunettes above the Ionic columns along the nave we can see 10 paintings, depicting episodes (true and untrue) in the history of the church. The first two are by

Giuseppe Pedretti Giuseppe Pedretti (26 February 1697 – 27 May 1778) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque or Rococo period, active mainly in Bologna. Biography Born in Bologna, at the age of 15, he began training, despite the opposition of his family ...

(1696–1778), the others by

Vittorio Bigari Vittorio Bigari (1692 – 1776) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period. Biography He was born in Bologna in 1692. His main biographer was Zanotti. He was initially trained in the art of stucco and sculpture, a pupil of Antonio D ...

(1692–1776).

Chapels on the right side

* St. Rose of Lima : the painting above the altar, portraying the ''Ecstasy of the Saint'', is by

Cesare Gennari Cesare Gennari (12 December 1637 – 11 February 1688) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. His ''Saint Mary Magdalene'' is in the Pinacoteca Civica di Cento. His ''Apparition of the Virgin to Saint Nicholas of Bari'' is at the Pinacoteca ...

. The altar-piece ''Virgin appearing to St. Hyacinth'' by

Ludovico Carracci Ludovico (or Lodovico) Carracci (21 April 1555 – 13 November 1619) was an Italian, early-Baroque painter, etcher, and printmaker born in Bologna. His works are characterized by a strong mood invoked by broad gestures and flickering light th ...

(now in the Louvre), used to stand here. * St. Vincent Ferrer : the painting above the altar (''St. Vincent brings a young boy back to life'') is by

Donato Creti Donato Creti (24 February 1671 – 31 January 1749) was an Italian painter of the Rococo period, active mostly in Bologna. Born in Cremona, he moved to Bologna, where he was a pupil of Lorenzo Pasinelli. He is described by Wittkower as the "Bol ...

(1731). On both sides of the chapel are two painting, representing the ''Miracles of the Saint'', by

. The elegant stucco angels are by Angelo Pio (1690–1769), one of the best artists of his time. *

St Antoninus of Florence Antoninus of Florence (1 March 13892 May 1459), was an Italian Dominican friar, who ruled as an archbishop of Florence. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Life He was born Antonio Pierozzi (also called de Forciglioni) on 1 Marc ...

: The painting above the altar (''The Lord and the Blessed Virgin Appearing to St. Antoninus and St. Francis'') is by Pietro Facini (1562–1602), while the paintings on the side walls (''Blessed Matteo Carreri'' and ''Blessed Stefania'') are by Pietro Dardani (1728–1808). *St. Andrew the Apostle : paintings of the ''Coming Martyrdom of the Apostle'', ''Blessed Imelda'' and ''Blessed Giovanna'' are by

Antonio Rossi Antonio Rossi (born December 19, 1968) is an Italian sprint canoer who has competed since the early 1990s. Competing in five Summer Olympics, he won five medals which included three golds (K-1 500 m: 1996, K-2 1000 m: 1996, 2000), one silver ( ...

(1700–1753) *Madonna of Fevers: above the altar is the painting ''Sant’Emidio'' by Filippo Gargalli (1750–1835). The painting ''Slaughter of the Innocents'' by Guido Reni, now in Bologna’s ''Pinacoteca Nazionale'', was once hung in this chapel. *St Dominic’s chapel: this is the main chapel of the church. It has a square plan and a semi-circular apse, where the remains of the saint rest in the splendid Arca di San Domenico under the cupola which contains three Michelangelo sculptures, ''Angel'', ''St. Proclus'', and ''St. Petronius''. The chapel was built by the Bolognese architect Floriano Ambrosini, replacing the old gothic chapel from 1413, to match the splendour of the other existing chapels. It was decorated between 1614 and 1616 by important painters of the Bolognese School, Tiarini (1577–1688),

Mario Righetti Mario Righetti (born c. 1590) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was born at Bologna. He became a pupil of Lucio Massari. In Bologna, he painted an ''Archangel Michael'' for the church of San Guglielmo; a ''Christ appearing to the ...

, Lionello Spada, Mastelletta, culminating in the fresco on the cupola of the apse ''St Dominic’s Glory'', a masterpiece by Reni, painted between 1613 and 1615. The ''Theological'' and ''The Cardinal Virtues'' in the niches of the apse were painted by Giovanni Todeschi between 1617 and 1631. The bust in white marble by Carlo Pini (1946) represents ''the real face of Saint Dominic'', modeled on the precise measurements performed on the saint’s skull. *Chapel of St Pius V : the altar-piece is by

Felice Torelli Felice Torelli (9 September 1667 – 11 June 1748) was an Italian painter of the Baroque style, active mainly in Bologna. Biography He was born to a family of artists in Verona, including his brother, Giuseppe Torelli, a noted violinist and ...

. *Chapel of St Hyacinth of Poland : with the painting ''A Miracle of the Saint'' by Antonio Muzzi. *Chapel of St Catherine of Siena: with ''St Catherine’s Mystic Communion'' by Francesco Brizzi (1546–1625) above the altar. *Chapel of St Catherine Virgin and Martyr: the painting above the altar, '' Mystical Marriage of St Catherine'', is an important panel and one of the last works by

(1501–1503).

Chapels on the left side

*Chapel of St. Louis Bertrand : contains two canvases: (on the right) ''Blessed Pietro Geremia'' by

Alessandro Tiarini Alessandro Tiarini (20 March 1577 – 8 February 1668) was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School. Biography Alessandro Tiarini was born in Bologna. His mother died when he was a child, and he was raised by an aunt. Early on his f ...

and (on the left) ''St. Albert the Great'' by Clemente Bevilacqua (died 1754) *Chapel of the Holy Blood has some important paintings : (on the right) ''Annunciation'' by

Denis Calvaert Denis (or Denys or Denijs) Calvaert (; around 154016 April 1619) was an Antwerp-born Flemish painter, who lived in Italy for most of his life, where he was known as Dionisio Fiammingo () or simply Il Fiammingo ("the Fleming"). Calvaert was a profo ...

(1540–1619), (above the central altar) ''St. Michael Archangel'' by Giacomo Francia (1484–1557), (on the left) ''St Martin de Porres'' by

Renzo Magnanini Renzo, the diminutive of Lorenzo (name), Lorenzo, is an Italian masculine given name and a surname. Given name Notable people named Renzo include the following: *Renzo Alverà (1933–2005), Italian bobsledder *Renzo Arbore (born 1937), Italia ...

, (in the big lunette) ''The Disputation of St Catherine Virgin and Martyr'' by

Prospero Fontana Prospero Fontana (1512–1597) was a Bolognese painter of late Renaissance and Mannerist art. He is perhaps best known for his frescoes and architectural detailing. The speed in which he completed paintings earned him commissions where he wor ...

*Chapel of Blessed Benedict XI with the painting ''The Blessed is taken to Heaven'' by

(1667–1748) *Rosary Chapel is the most prominent chapel on this side of the church. The vivacious fresco on the vault (the ''Assumption'') and in the apse (''Heaven and Earth praising the Madonna of the Rosary'') were painted between 1655 and 1657 by

Angelo Michele Colonna Angelo Michele Colonna (21 September 1604 - 1687) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Bologna, northern and central Italy and Spain. He is sometimes referred to as Michelangelo Colonna. Biography He was born in Rovenna. As a ...

(1600–1687) and by Agostino Mitelli (1609–1660). The two choir stalls were designed by the architect Carlo Francesco Dotti in 1736 after the redesigning of the interior of the church. The altar was designed by the Bolognese architect Floriano Ambrosini (1557–1621). But the most important paintings in this large chapel are the famous ''Mysteries of the Rosary'', finished in 1601. The most prominent artist of their time worked on the decoration :

Lodovico Carracci Ludovico (or Lodovico) Carracci (21 April 1555 – 13 November 1619) was an Italian, early- Baroque painter, etcher, and printmaker born in Bologna. His works are characterized by a strong mood invoked by broad gestures and flickering light ...

(''the Annunciation and the Visitation''),

Bartolomeo Cesi Bartolomeo Cesi (; 16 August 1556 – 11 July 1629) was an Italian painter and draftsman of the Bolognese School.Andrea Bayer. "Cesi, Bartolomeo" Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 7 November 2020 He made ea ...

(the ''Nativity''),

(''Presentation of Jesus in the Temple''), the female artist

Lavinia Fontana Lavinia Fontana (August 24, 1552 – August 11, 1614) was a Bolognese Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome. She is best known for her successful portraiture, but also worked in the genres of mythology and religious painting. She was trai ...

(''Jesus among the Doctors'' and the ''Coronation of the Virgin''),

(''Christ in the garden''),

(the ''Scourging'' and ''Christ falling under the Cross''),

(the ''Crowning with Thorns'', the ''Crucifixion'' and ''Pentecost''), Guido Reni (the ''Resurrection''),

Domenichino Domenico Zampieri (, ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (, ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters. Life Domenichino was born in Bologna, son of a sho ...

(the ''Assumption of the Blessed Virgin''). Young

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

played on the organ in this chapel, while he was studying with padre

Giovanni Battista Martini Giovanni Battista or Giambattista Martini, O.F.M. Conv. (24 April 1706 – 3 August 1784), also known as Padre Martini, was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar, who was a leading musician, composer, and music historian of the per ...

in 1769. *Vestibule of the side door contains the marble tomb of Alessandro Tartagni (1477) by Francesco di Simone Ferrucci da Fiesole (1437–1493). *Chapel of St Joseph : the canvas above the altar is ''Death of St. Joseph'' and ''St Anthony abbot'' by

Giovanni Battista Bertusio Giovanni Battista Bertusio (also spelled Bertucci or Bertuzzi; 1577–1644) was a painter of the early- Baroque period, active in Bologna. He trained initially under Denys Calvaert, then under Ludovico and Agostino Carracci. He married the paint ...

(died 1644), and the paintings on the left (''San Teresa di Gesù'') and on the right (''St Anthony of Padua'') are by Giovanni Breviglieri. *Chapel of St. Peter the Martyr : the painting above the altar ''Kneeling Saint'' is by

, while the paintings on the left (''Sant’Agnese da Montepulciano'') and on the right (''St Catherine de Ricci'') are by Pietro Dardani (1728–1808) *Chapel of St Raymond of Peñafort contains the famous canvas the ''Saint plowing the Waves on his Mantle'' by

*Chapel of Blessed Ceslaus with the painting the ''Blessed'' by

Lucia Casalini-Torrelli Lucia may refer to: Arts and culture * ''Lucía'', a 1968 Cuban film by Humberto Solás * ''Lucia'' (film), a 2013 Kannada-language film * '' Lucia & The Best Boys'', a Scottish indie rock band formerly known as ''LUCIA'' * "Lucia", a Swedish c ...

Right transept

There is a small chapel on the right side of the altar with a painting by the Baroque artist

and a canvas by

''St. Thomas Aquinas writing the Holy Sacrament'' (1662)

Left transept

*Chapel of the Holy Cross: On the wall is a marble slab, carved in 1731 by

Giuseppe Maria Mazza Giuseppe Maria Mazza (13 May 1653 – 6 June 1741) was one of the leading sculptors of Bologna, Italy, in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was trained as a painter, but is best known for his fine sculptural work in terracotta and stucco. ...

, commemorating the death in 1272 of King

Enzio of Sardinia Enzo (or Enzio; 14 March 1272) was an illegitimate son of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II, who appointed him 'King of Sardinia' in 1238. He played a major role in the wars between Guelphs and Ghibellines in the Imperial kingdom of Italy, an ...

, son of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. He had been captured by the Bolognese

Guelph Guelph ( ; 2021 Canadian Census population 143,740) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Kitchener and west of Downtown Toronto, at the intersection of Highway 6, Highway 7 and Wel ...

forces in the

Battle of Fossalta The Battle of Fossalta was a battle of the War of the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Northern Italy. It took place in Fossalta, a small location on the Panaro River, and is especially remembered for the capture of Enzio of Sardinia, son of Empero ...

in 1249. The painting above the altar is ''Christ being laid down'' by

Pier Francesco Cavazza Pier Francesco Cavazza (1675 – 14 October 1755) was an Italian painter and art collector, active in his native Bologna. History He trained in Bologna under Giovanni Maria Viani Giovanni Maria Viani (1636–1700) was an Italian painter of ...

(1667–1733), while on the right is the ''Assumption of the Madonna'' by Vincenzo Spisanelli (1595–1662). *Chapel of St Michael the Archangel : Here on view is the imposing ''Crucifixion'', the masterpiece by

(mid-13th century). It is still much influenced by the Byzantine style and represents one of the best examples of 13th-century Italian painting. This crucifix has much influenced

Cimabue Cimabue (; ; – 1302), Translated with an introduction and notes by J.C. and P Bondanella. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Oxford World’s Classics), 1991, pp. 7–14. . also known as Cenni di Pepo or Cenni di Pepi, was an Italian painter ...

, who would then slowly evolve into his own style. On the right side we find the marble monument, spanning the two chapels, dedicated to the Bolognese ruler

Taddeo Pepoli Taddeo Pepoli, O.S.B. (died 1549) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Carinola (1535–1549) and Bishop of Cariati e Cerenzia (1533–1535).Giacinto Bellini (1612–1660). The fresco ''Madonna with Child among the Saints'' is by an unknown

Emilia Emilia may refer to: People * Emilia (given name), list of people with this name Places * Emilia (region), a historical region of Italy. Reggio, Emilia * Emilia-Romagna, an administrative region in Italy, including the historical regions of Emi ...

n artist at the end of the 13th century. Facing King Enzo’s monument is a fragment of a 14th-century fresco ''Face of St Thomas Aquinas''

The choir

This monumental choir was moved behind the high altar in the 17th century. The original altar was a masterpiece decorated with basreliefs and nine sculptures by

Giovanni di Balduccio Giovanni di Balduccio (c. 1290 – after 1339) was an Italian sculptor of the Medieval period. Life The artist was born in Pisa, and likely did not train directly with the famous Pisan sculptor Andrea Pisano. He travelled to Milan to help s ...

(1330), a pupil of

Giovanni Pisano Giovanni Pisano (c. 1250 – c. 1315) was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect, who worked in the cities of Pisa, Siena and Pistoia. He is best known for his sculpture which shows the influence of both the French Gothic and the Ancient ...

. Now only the statue of ''St Peter the Martyr'' still exists and is on display in the City Museum. The present high altar was made by

Alfonso Torreggiani Alfonso Torreggiani (1682–1764) was an Italian architect of the Rococo period, principally associated with Bologna. Life Torregiani was born in Budrio. An apprentice of Giuseppe Antonio Torri, he became intensely active in the city of Bol ...

(died 1764). In the middle of the golden altar-piece at the back of the apse, is the ''Adoration of the Magi'' by

, flanked by paintings (on its left side) of Saint Nicholas of Bari and (on its right side) of Saint Dominic. Below is the ''Miracle of the Bread'' by Vincenzo Spisanelli. The 102 wooden choir stalls are an exquisite example of

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

carving by the Dominican friar

Damiano da Bergamo Fra Damiano da Bergamo (Damiano di Antoniolo de Zambelli) (circa 1480–1549) was an Italian artist and Dominican friar, mainly known for his wood-engraving and intarsia completed in a Renaissance style. Along with Francesco Orlandini, and owing de ...

. (1528–1530). Between 1541 and 1549 they were inlaid with intaglia by the same artist, using a series of drawings from a book by

Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola ( , , ; 1 October 15077 July 1573), often simply called Vignola, was one of the great Italian architects of 16th century Mannerism. His two great masterpieces are the Villa Farnese at Caprarola and the Jesuits' Churc ...

, and carved by his brother Stefano da Bergamo. The work was finished by brother Bernardino da Bologna. These decorations display scenes from the Old Testament (on the right side) and from the New Testament (on the left side). Because of its extraordinary artistic value, this remarkable

marquetry Marquetry (also spelled as marqueterie; from the French ''marqueter'', to variegate) is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The technique may be applied to case fur ...

work was considered by its contemporaries as the eight wonder of the world. It is also noted in the ''

Vite ''The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'' ( it, Le vite de' più eccellenti pittori, scultori, e architettori), often simply known as ''The Lives'' ( it, Le Vite), is a series of artist biographies written by 16th-ce ...

'' (IV,94) by

Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (, also , ; 30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance Master, who worked as a painter, architect, engineer, writer, and historian, who is best known for his work '' The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculp ...

The museum

The church's small museum houses many important works of art and a wide collection of precious

reliquaries A reliquary (also referred to as a ''shrine'', by the French term ''châsse'', and historically including '' phylacteries'') is a container for relics. A portable reliquary may be called a ''fereter'', and a chapel in which it is housed a ''fe ...

chalice A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek () 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning. R ...

s and monstrances. A small selection : * The reliquary of

Saint Louis IX Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly known as Saint Louis or Louis the Saint, was King of France from 1226 to 1270, and the most illustrious of the Direct Capetians. He was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the ...

, king of France, is of special interest as a most elaborate example in Gothic style of an unknown French goldsmith at the end of the 13th century. It was a gift to this church by king Philip IV of France, following the canonization of Louis IX in 1297. * The remains of a

terracotta Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, and architecture, terracotta ...

''Pietà'' (1495) by the architect, painter and sculptor Baccio da Montelupo (mentioned by Vasari in his ''Vite'') * A polychromed terracotta ''Bust of Saint Dominic'' by Niccolò dell'Arca (1474) * The remains of a fresco of ''Madonna with Child and Saint Dominic'' by an unknown Bolognese artist (possibly

Cristoforo da Bologna Cristoforo da Bologna was an Italian painter. He was active in Bologna, Modena, and Ferrara Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. ...

) (second half of the 14th century), this fresco is known among engineers and scientists for the detailed pattern of the water flow wake near the St Cristopher's heels that likely has inspired Theodore Von Kármán in his studies * ''Madonna of the Velvet'', tempera on wood by Lippo Dalmasio (c. 1390) * The ''Paschal Lamb'', an oil painting on wood sometimes ascribed to

* ''Madonna with Child, Saint Dominic and Vincenzo Ferreri'' (c. 1773), one of the best works of by Ubaldo Gandolfi (1728–1781) * Several valuable intarsias by fra Damiano da Bergamo, such as ''The Story of San Girolomo'', and geometrical figures.

Convent and library ( Biblioteca di San Domenico)

The square-shaped convent next door is also worth visiting for its cloisters (14th, 15th and 16th centuries) with various tombstones and memorial tablets in its walls. The chapter room displays a precious fresco of ''Saint Dominic'' from the 14th century. It is the oldest known image of the saint. On the ground floor of the old dormitory is St Dominic’s cell, so called because it is an original cell from his time and possibly the cell (or a similarly one) where he died. Some original letters of introduction and his canonization bull of 9 July 1234 are here on display. At the front of the library is a fresco ''Madonna with benedictory Child'' (by an unknown artist). The three-aisled Renaissance library, the Biblioteca of San Domenico, planned like a basilica and built by

Gaspare Nadi Gaspare Nadi or Guasparo di Nadi (2 November 1418 – 9 January 1504) was an Italian builder famous for his diary (''diario''). He was mistaken by later historians for an architect. He built, but did not design, the library of the Basilica of San ...

, dates back to 1469 and contains many precious books. Part of the library complex is now the seat of the faculty of philosophy and theology, run by the Dominicans. Another part is used as a conference room with a wooden-paneled coffer ceiling. At its end hangs the Baroque painting ''Ecstasy of St. Thomas Aquinas'' by

Marcantonio Franceschini Marcantonio Franceschini (; 1648 – 24 December 1729) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mostly in his native Bologna. He was the father and teacher of Giacomo Franceschini.''The picture collector's manual'' by James R. Hob ...

Other burials

* Guido Reni, in the Rosary Chapel *

Elisabetta Sirani Elisabetta Sirani (8 January 1638 – 28 August 1665) was an Italian Baroque painter and printmaker who died in unexplained circumstances at the age of 27. She was a pioneering female artist in early modern Bologna, who established an academy fo ...

, also in the Rosary Chapel * James Of Ulm *

References and sources

;References ;Sources * * * *
{{Authority control

Domenico Domenico is an Italian given name for males and may refer to: People * Domenico Alfani, Italian painter * Domenico Allegri, Italian composer * Domenico Alvaro, Italian mobster * Domenico Ambrogi, Italian painter * Domenico Auria, Italian archit ...

Renaissance architecture in Bologna Romanesque architecture in Bologna Libraries in Bologna