The Ospedale degli Incurabili (''Hospital for the Incurables'') or Complesso degli Incurabili is an ancient and prominent hospital complex located on Via Maria Longo in central Naples, Italy. Part of the complex, including the remarkable pharmacy, are now the ''Museo delle arti sanitarie'' of Naples.

History

Originally built in Renaissance style, the complex incorporated in the structures of the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria Succurre Miseris dei Bianchi, as well as the ospedale (hospital) of Santa Maria del Popolo degli Incurabili. In time, it also incorporated the adjacent S. Maria delle Grazie Maggiore a Caponapoli and its cloister, the monastery of Santa Maria della Consolazione, the church of Santa Maria di Gerusalemme and the cloister of the Trentatré. The hospital was founded in 1521 by

Maria Lorenza Longo Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial *170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 *Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, da ...

after she became paralyzed by a malady. Among the main donors of the next century was the merchant

Gaspar Roomer Gaspar Roomer ( Antwerp, between 1596 and 1606 - Naples, 3 April 1674) was a prominent Flemish merchant, banker, art patron and art collector who was active in Naples in the 17th century. Biography Born in Antwerp, he lived for at least four dec ...

. In the 19th century, donors included Professor Cotugno and Signore Marchetti of Messina.A New Guide of Naples, Its Environs, Procida, Ischia and Capri
by Giovanni Battista de Ferrari, (Naples, 1826) page 309

Pharmacy

Napoli (NA), 2012, Complesso degli Incurabili la farmacia

In the mid 18th century, Antonio Maggiocca was the patron for the building of the pharmacy. The structure was designed by

Bartolomeo Vecchione Bartolomeo Vecchione is a late 18th-century Italian architect of the late-Baroque or Rococo period, active in and around Naples. Little is known about his origins and training; he clearly appears influenced by Ferdinando Sanfelice and Luigi V ...

. Maggiocca’s marble bust inside was sculpted by

Matteo Bottiglieri Matteo Bottiglieri (1684–1757) was an Italian sculptor and painter from Naples. One of his first works is a marble "Dead Christ" (1724), in the crypt of the Capua Cathedral, perhaps executed after drawings by Francesco Solimena. In 1733 he exe ...

in 1750. The pharmacy remains, generally intact with cabinets and nearly 400 maiolica vases (

albarelli Albarelli is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Fabio Albarelli (1943–1995), Italian competitive sailor * Giacomo Albarelli, Italian painter See also * Albarello (disambiguation) * Albarello (surname) Albarello is an Italian s ...

) for compounds, made by

Lorenzo Salandra Lorenzo may refer to: People * Lorenzo (name) Places Peru * San Lorenzo Island (Peru), sometimes referred to as the island of Lorenzo United States * Lorenzo, Illinois * Lorenzo, Texas * San Lorenzo, California, formerly Lorenzo * Lorenzo State ...

and

Donato Massa Donato may refer to: People * Donato (surname) As a given name * Donato Bilancia (1951–2020), Italian serial killer * Donato Bramante (1444–1514), Italian architect * Donato da Cascia (fl. c. 1350 – 1370), Italian composer of trecent ...

. The tiled floors were made by Giuseppe Massa. The ceiling was frescoed by

Pietro Bardellino Pietro Bardellino (1728–1806) was an Italian painter. He lived his life aiming to be the ‘perfect man’. Biography Bardellino was born in Naples, and was initially trained by Francesco de Mura. In 1773 he became director of the ''Accademia Na ...

. The Pharmacy consists of a grand salon, an entrance room, and a small laboratory. The latter is decorated in stucco and has an elaborate table by the woodworker Agostino Fucito.

Church of Santa Maria del Popolo

The renaissance style funereal monument by the main altar was completed by Giovanni da Nola. The Frescoes in the church were completed by

Giuliano Bugiardini Giuliano di Piero di Simone Bugiardini (29 January 1475 – 17 February 1555) was an Italian Renaissance painter. He was born and was mainly active in Florence."Bugiardini, Giuliano." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. ...

Marco Cardisco Marco Cardisco, also known as Marco Calabrese, (Born in Tiriolo c.1486 – c.1542) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Naples during 1508–1542. Biography He was a pupil of the painter and decorator Polidoro da Ca ...

Francesco De Mura Francesco de Mura (21 April 1696 – 19 August 1782) was an Italian painter of the late- Baroque period, active mainly in Naples and Turin. His late work reflects the style of neoclassicism. Life Francesco de Mura, also referred to as ''Fran ...

Marco Pino Marco Pino or Marco da Siena (1521–1583) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance and Mannerist period. Born in Costalpino and first trained in Siena, he later worked in Rome and in Naples, where he died. He was putatively a pupil of the pain ...

Giovanni Battista Rossi Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * '' Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend ...

, and Carlo Sellitto. In the Cappella Montalto is an altarpiece by

Girolamo D'Auria Girolamo D'Auria (1577–1620) was an Italian sculptor, active mainly in Naples, Italy. His first name is variously used as Hieronymus, Ieronimo, Hieronimo, Jeronimo, Geronimo or Gerolamo. Girolamo's father, Giovanni Domenico D'Auria, and An ...

. The sacristy was frescoed by Giovanni Battista Rossi.

Church of Santa Maria dei Bianchi

The church of Santa Maria dei Bianchi (or ''Congregation of the Bianchi della Giustizia'') was a church build by a white-robed confraternity attached to the complex, and whose role was the assistance to those condemned to death. The church was founded in 1473. In 1673, it was restored in

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

style by Dionisio Lazzari. Much of the church as well as the pharmacy now is in poor state. The main altar has a statue of the Virgin by Giovanni da Nola, while the ceiling was frescoed by

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi image:Benaschi-llanto por abel.JPG, ''The Deploration of Abel'', Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Madrid). Giovanni Battista Benaschi, or Beinaschi, (1636–1688) was an list of Italian painters, Italian painter and engraver active i ...

. The sacristy has frescoes by Paolo De Matteis depicting members of the confraternity.

References

Bibliography

*Antonio Terraciano, Andrea Russo, ''Le chiese di Napoli. Censimento e brevi recensioni delle 448 chiese storiche della città di Napoli'', Lorenzo Giunta Editore, 1999. *Vincenzo Regina, ''Le chiese di Napoli. Viaggio indimenticabile attraverso la storia artistica, architettonica, letteraria, civile e spirituale della Napoli sacra'', Newton e Compton editore, Napoli 2004 * * Gennaro Aspreno Galante, ''Le chiese di Napoli''. Guida sacra alla città, la storia, le opere d'arte e i monumenti. Solemar Edizioni, Mugano di Napoli 2007.

External links

Museo delle Arti Sanitarie - Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Incurabili Churches in Naples Hospitals in Naples Museums in Naples Libraries in Naples